ENGLAND 3, SCOTLAND 0
England’s comprehensive victory over the Auld Enemy inched them closer to the finals of the World Cup.
The win against Scotland at Wembley also greatly enhanced Gareth Southgate’s prospects of landing the England manager’s job permanently.
Under Southgate’s watch as caretaker, following Sam Allardyce’s departure, England have picked up seven points from a possible nine.
Goals from Daniel Sturridge, Gary Cahill and Adam Lallana saw England establish a two-point lead at the top of Group F.
But it was a defeat that could well spell the end of Gordan Strachan’s tenure as Scotland manager.
A disappointing run of results sees them second bottom of the group with no hopes of making it to the finals in Russia.
But you have to have sympathy for Strachan as this must be one of the worst-ever Scotland sides, of not the worst, as it lacks quality with the manager having to plunder the Championship for players.
Strachan, who refused to discuss his own position, was proud of the way his side played.
“Sometimes things are not fair – and that was not fair tonight,” he said.
Strachan described the misses early in the second half as “massive” adding they were punished by a side containing world-class players able to take the chances they created.
Southgate, likewise, would not discuss his own future saying it lies in the hands of others.
Of the three games in charge, he said: “I have loved it, and really enjoyed the roll and every part of the challenge.’
Southgate was pleased that the players sealed victory after an hour and we able to enjoy their football without a “pressure environment” adding “in the last 15 minutes we were able to play at Wembley with freedom”.
He said: “Before that there were times when we were not so controlled and had to dig in.
“Some of our play was exciting, but ome of our build-up play was sloppy and we caused our own problems.
“There is a lot to reflect on, a lot of good performances.”
Southgate conceded his side was fortunate when Scotland squandered two chances to equalise early in the second half.
He continued: “They were key moments due to our lack of concentration, and we have to be sharper in those moments.
“But we were ruthless in front of goal and created a lot of chances.”
There was a poignant act of remembrance before kick off on Armistice Day as representatives of the three service laid wreaths on the centre spot before kick off.
This was followed by one minute’s silence and the playing of the Last Post, the tribute to those who gave their lives impeccably observed by both sets of supporters.
And England and Scotland kicked off with both sets of players wearing black armbanks featuring poppies after the furore of FIFA failing them to have poppies on their shirts.
Sturridge led the line for England, preferred to Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Theo Walcott and
Marcus Rashford who were all on the bench.
Wayne Rooney, Lallana and Raheem Sterling were the three players chosen to play behind Sturridge.
Scotland made the brighter start without ever threatening to score.
England had a lukewarm shout for a penalty after 13 minutes when Sterling went down after an aerial challenge with Lee Wallace, though replays suggested Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir got his call right.
Rooney then saw a free kick deflected for a corner by Grant Hanley who was stood in the defensive wall.
The breakthrough came in the 24th minute when Sturridge justified his starting spot, a decision that raised some eye rows.
Kyle Walker provided the assist with a cross and Sturridge stooped at the near post to glide a header wide of keeper Craig Gordon for his eighth goal for his country.
Scotland could and should have equalised within three minutes when Hanley was left completely unmarked from a corner, but headed well over from eight yards. He held his head in his hands in despair knowing he ought to have done better.
Scotland carved out a couple of decent openings, but Leigh Griffiths wrongly decided to shoot rather than released Robert Snodgrass who was completely free to his left while Darren Fletcher fired over from a good position.
England were fortunate not to be punished at the start of the second half when Scotland squandered two great chances to equalise.
James Forrest fired wide when well placed and then Snodgrass’goalbound shot was blocked by John Stones.
Those misses came back to bite Scotland as England doubled their advantage after 50 minutes through Lallana’s flying header from 12 yards as he met Danny Rose’s cross with perfection.
And it got better for England who went 3-0 ahead after an hour through a fine glanced header from Cahill from Rooney’s corner.
England ought to have made it four after 70 minutes when Sterling somehow contrived to blaze iver from two yards as he met a Jordan Henderson cross.
Sturridge made way for Vardy with 16 minutes left, England’s first change of the night.
Scotland kept battling to the end and in stoppage time Leigh Griffiths’ free kick dipped on to the roof of the net.