ENGLAND 2, LITHUANIA 0
England expected more, though their win against Lithuania extended their lead at the top of their World Cup qualifying group to five points.
A place in Russia looks nailed on, though it was a pretty ordinary display from England that lacked sparkle and panache.
After the spirited showing against Germany in midweek – it was only a friendly – expectations were high coming into the qualifier against the fourth-placed team in their group.
But this game showed the difference between a friendly and competitive fixture where points are at stake.
England laboured to victory through goals from Jermain Defoe on his return to international football at the age of 34 and substitute Jamie Vardy.
And though the stats were overwhelming in England’s favour, it was a pretty lack-lustre display.
England enjoyed 72-per-cent possession, had 21 goal attempts to Lithuania’s four and nine on target to two which suggested it was a rout, but that certainly wasn’t the case.
Manager Gareth Southgate admitted England could have done better.
He said: “It’s a case of job done, but I am not going to eulogise about how we well we played.
“It has been a good week, there has been a good spirit and you can see the direction in which we are going, but we will play better.”
Southgate through his side could have moved the ball quicker in the opening 55 minutes as they didn’t do enough to stretch Lithuania’s packed defence saying there was little space around he edge of the box.
He thought the two substitutions – he brought on Vardy and Marcus Rashford after an hour – addressed that.
Southgate says there is “still a lot of work” to go in the group pointing out they have to play away to Scotland and also play on a plastic pitch in Lithuania.
He praised Defoe saying he would have “put my house” on him scoring the way he had been finishing in training.
Southgate added: “It was a great moment for him, and he was thrilled to be involved with the squad.
“He has enjoyed the week immensely. He has been a good senior pro to have around in the way he trained and been great for the young players to see how professional he is.
“Jermain has had a positive impact on everyone and he was selected on form.”
Lithuanian manager Edgaras Jankauskas said he was “extremely proud” of his team.
He explained” “What we witnessed in the first 30 minutes was unbelievable in terms of how skilful England’s attacking players were and the pressure they put us under.
“There were a lot of positives to take from the match, one of which was we had chances to score against a very good England side.”
In the absence of Wayne Rooney and Jordan Henderson, England named Joe Hart as captain for the second time in 70 full appearances, the other against Spain was when Roy Hodgson was in charge.
There was a strong Mancunian representation the side with City pair John Stones and Raheem Sterling and former Red Michael Keane, now of course at Burnley.
And on the bench was the United threesome of Luke Shaw, Rashford and Jesse Lingard.
Before kick off former England manager Graham Taylor was remembered while there was one minute’s silence impeccably observed for the victims of the London terrorist attack earlier in the week.
Wreaths were laid by FA chairman Greg Clarke, Minister for Culture and Sport Karen Bradley and the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan as the words ‘We stand together’ were displayed on the advertising hoardings as football’s tribute to to those killed and badly injured.
There was also another emotional moment as terminally ill youngster Bradley Lowery, a Sunderland fan, led out the teams as mascot.
England, who had played a three man back line in Wednesday’s friendly against Germany, went with a flat four in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Eric Dier and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were the holding midfield pair while Adam Lallana, Dele Alli and Sterling operated behind Defoe.
The proven Defoe, who won the first of his 56 caps in 2004, was preferred to Jamie Vardy and Marcus Rashford.
It was a fairytale return for the Sunderland striker as his last England cap was in November 2013 as, at the of 34, his international career had looked over.
It was clear from the start it would be a cagey affair with England struggling to make inroads against a packed Lithuanian defence.
England needed to show patience, but they were rewarded with a breakthrough in the 21st minute when Defoe, who else, marked his comeback with his 20th international goal and his first in four years.
Sterling provided a low cross from the left and Defoe shot into the roof of the net from seven yards.
There had been a warning shot moments earlier when Defoe got on the end of an Adam Lallana cross but keeper Ernestas Setkus made an important block.
Defoe, brimming with confidence, tried his luck from 25 yards, but pulled his effort well wide.
England enjoyed almost 75-per-cent possession in the opening half but, the goal apart, created little in what was a lukewarm game.
Yet in first half stoppage time, Lithuanian almost levelled after the referee’s assistant missed a blatant offside.
Vykintas Slivka headed the ball over Hart, but Stones saved the day with a goalline clearance.
And early in the second half, Hart was called into action to made a decent top to deny the dangerous Slivka.
Moments later England could have doubled their lead when Oxlade-Chamberlain curled in a delightful shot from 25 yards that keeper Setkus did well to beat away.
England needed new impetus and after an hour Southgate made a double change as Defoe and Sterling made way for Vardy and Rashford.
And the changes paid almost immediate dividends as Vardy made it 2-0 within six minutes of making entrance.
Kyle Walker made a raid down the right and his ball was laid off by Lallana first time for Vardy to elude the offside trap before slotting the ball low past Setkus for his sixth goal for England.
Vardy could have scored a second when he was released. He lifted the ball over the advancing keeper, but ballooned it over the crossbar.
Dier also wasted a great chance heading wide from six yard following a corner by Rashford.
Alli also had a chance to add a third goal, but glanced his header wide.