Under-21s Friendlies
England U21s
Sep 3, 2015 7.45pm
1
0
HT : 0 0
FT Deepdale
USA U23s
  • James Wilson 72' goal

Live Commentary: England Under-21s 1-0 USA Under-23s - as it happened

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England U21s 1-0 USA U23s - as it happened
© Getty Images

England Under-21s took on USA Under-23s in their first fixture since this summer's European Under-21 Championship, as Gareth Southgate included a host of fresh faces in his squad.

Substitute James Wilson gave England a 1-0 win with a second-half goal, while Nathan Redmond, Jake Forster-Caskey and Solly March all impressed. Southampton midfielder James Ward Prowse made his first start as captain of the side.

Find out how all the action unfolded with Sports Mole's full text commentary below:

9.39pmThat's all we've got time for tonight folks, thank you very much for your company tonight. Don't forget, Sports Mole is the place to find all the action from the big games. Goodnight!

9.37pmNathan Redmond, Dele Alli and Solly March all stood out for the hosts tonight. Duncan Watmore impressed with his work rate, while Jake Forster-Caskey and Ruben Loftus-Cheek controlled the midfield. Overall, Southgate will be pleased with the night's work.

9.36pmIt's a first win of the season though for Gareth Southgate's side, after a disappointing European Championship in the summer. England win in Preston thanks to a James Wilson goal.

9.36pmFULL TIME! It's 22 consecutive home wins for England Under-21s, after the Three Lions defeat USA Under-23s 1-0 at Deepdale. The hosts looked comfortable for the most part this evening, but the visitors did look dangerous on a few occasions.

9.33pmLuis Gil has looked bright since coming on for the USA, and the midfielder looked to set up another chance for the visitors to equalise, but Kortney Hause did well to stop him. Hause has looked very comfortable since coming on for England.

9.32pmLoftus-Cheek finds Watmore with a brilliant through ball, before the Sunderland man moves into the box, but is dispossessed before he can get a shot away. Three minutes added on at Deepdale.

9.28pmDillon Serna puts a teasing cross into the box as the USA look for an equaliser, but England defend well. The visitors have just made a couple of more substitutions, and seem to have a little more urgency in their play now.

9.26pmGreat run by March again! The Brighton winger moved past the American defenders before trying to get the pass away. The young winger has looked very effective since coming on tonight.

9.25pmCHANCE! Big chance for Watmore! The Sunderland forward has been brilliant since coming on tonight, but with a one-on-one chance with the keeper he blasts the ball over the bar. Big chance wasted.

9.24pmUSA with their first spell of possession for some time, as Trapp finds space on the left before swinging in an inviting cross, but the referee flags up a foul by the USA striker.

9.22pmEngland just taking the sting out of the game now with some possession in their own half, but they look much the better team at Deepdale.

9.18pmCHANCE! Another chance for England, this time through Loftus-Cheek. The Chelsea youngster drives forward into the box before shooting, but his effort is blocked. England looking impressive here.

9.17pmEngland certainly aren't playing like a team that has just made nine substitutions here. Watmore, March and Wilson in particular are looking bright as a front three, while Kortney Hause is playing well at left-back.

9.16pmCHANCE! So unlucky for Solly March! Watmore leads a counter attack down the right and finds March, who chips Steffen in the USA goal, but his effort hit the far post! So close to England's second goal, great play by the two substitutes.

9.14pmGOAL! England finally find the breakthrough thanks to James Wilson from close range. Watmore picks up a great pass by Jake Forster-Caskey, but his effort is diverted by Steffen. The ball falls to Wilson for a simple tap in at the far post. 1-0 to England!

9.12pmGreat run by March - playing on the right for England - who moves onto his left before surging past his marker to put a good-looking ball into the box, which is scrambled behind for a corner.

9.10pmGood crowd in Preston tonight...

9.07pmSo Gunn, Iorfa, Hause, Watmore and Wilson all make their England Under-21s debut at Deepdale in the second half.

9.05pmUSA also make a host of substitutions - on come Polster, Sorto, Rubin, Carter-Vickers and Gil. Not as many as England, but still a lot.

9.02pmSUBS! Only Calum Chambers and Ruben Loftus-Cheek will stay on here for England. Angus Gunn replaces Pickford, Dominic Iorfa, Kortney Hause, Jack Stephens move into defence, Nathaniel Chalobah, Jake Forster-Caskey, Solly March in midfield, Duncan Watmore and James Wilson move up front for the hosts. Phew!

9.00pmCHANCE! Another England break as Dele Alli finds Redmond in the box, but his effort is blocked. England are set to make nine (!) substitutions in moments - I'll do my best to keep up!

8.59pmJordon Ibe produces a brilliant counter attack, driving at the USA defence before finding space in the box, but the winger takes one touch too many and can't get the shot away.

8.57pmCHANCE! Ward Prowse tries an effort from outside the area, but the save is comfortable for Steffen.

8.56pmSome good pressure by England, as Alli and Gomez deliver the ball into the box, but USA are able to clear. Ward Prowse collects the ball though and sets up Targett on the left, who puts in an inviting cross, but Shane O'Neill clears (again) for the visitors.

8.54pmEngland have struggled to keep possession so far in the second half, and Gareth Southgate has sent a host of substitutes to warm up.

8.51pmLoftus-Cheek finds Woodrow with a good pass, but the Fulham striker's shot is blocked. At the other end, Kiesewetter gets beyond the England back line, but his effort is fired wide.

8.50pmEngland looking bright as Ward-Prowse sends a shot into the box, but Woodrow is stood in the way!

8.47pmSECOND HALF! Back underway at Deepdale and USA make one change, Wolfsburg's Zack Steffen replaces Cody Cropper in goal.

8.46pmThe players are out for the second half - can England find a goal, or will the USA upstage the Three Lions?

8.41pmAs for the visitors, Rodriguez has looked lively on the break, but O'Neill and Cropper have been crucial to keeping the clean sheet so far.

8.38pmNathan Redmond has been the side's top performer though. The Norwich City winger has looked lively with the ball at his feet, and created some of the game's best chances.

8.35pmThe four debutants have looked fairly solid so far. Pickford produced a stunning save, but has looked a little suspect on a couple of occasions. Jordon Ibe and Dele Alli have looked bright going forwards, offering pace to the English attack, while Gomez has done okay at right-back.

8.33pmHALF TIME! And that was the last kick of the half. England have dominated possession, but have looked vulnerable at the back on occasions. Neither side have found the net, but both have had good chances. All to play for in the second half at Deepdale, 0-0 the half-time score.

8.32pmCHANCE! Yet another free kick for England from the right. Ward Prowse went for the shot, but Cropper did well to keep the strike out.

8.30pmCHANCE! Loftus-Cheek spots the run of Ibe on the right, who finds space in the box but his effort is high and wide. Not long left in the first half.

8.27pmAnother England free kick from the right, but the delivery is dealt with. Gomez picked up the ball after a scramble and found Ibe, who launches a swift low cross into the box but the ball finds no one.

8.24pmCHANCE! Big chance for the USA! Kiesewetter gets the better of Targett on the right, before finding Hyndman in the box, but his effort goes harmlessly over the bar. For all England's possession, the USA are looking dangerous on the break.

8.22pmIbe - back now on the right - is forced wide by the USA defence but wins another corner. The captain delivers and USA clear, but Gomez puts in a return ball, and USA struggle to clear their lines. Opportunity missed by England.

8.21pmFree kick from the right taken by Ward Prowse, but the delivery is well defended by the USA. Rodriguez then launches a counter attack, finding Hernandez to his left, but the forward fouls Joe Gomez.

8.19pmRedmond puts in a hopeful cross from the left, but Cropper collects with ease. The sting has been taken out of England's game in the last few minutes.

8.17pmWoodrow takes a long-range strike, but his effort is blocked away for a corner. Ward Prowse takes the delivery, but the referee gives a foul by Dier.

8.16pmRedmond tries another shot from a tight angle, but this time the ball sails wide of the USA net. 31 minutes gone and England are the better team, but there are no goals to show for it.

8.14pmCHANCE! Another great chance for Woodrow! Jordon Ibe bursts past the USA defence on the right before finding the big man, but his shot is deflected behind for a corner. From which, Loftus-Cheek heads wide. England on top.

8.13pmRedmond and Ibe switched flanks around 10 minutes ago, and since then the Norwich man has looked dazzling, running at the USA defence with ease again and again.

8.12pmThe game has opened up now at Deepdale, with a couple of chances at both ends and the USA starting to see more of the ball.

8.10pmCHANCE! Big chance for Cauley Woodrow! Redmond eases through the USA defence before picking out the big man from Fulham on the right, but his shot finds Cody Cropper. England's best chance of the game so far.

8.08pmMiller almost gets the better of Joe Gomez on the wing, as the Liverpool defender slips, before recovering to clear the danger. A couple of scary moments for the England defence in the last few minutes, but it's still 0-0.

8.06pmEngland just about manage to clear a second USA corner. All England on the ball but the USA almost with a goal against the run of play.

8.05pmCHANCE! Great save by Pickford! Rodriguez forces a low save from the debutant after getting the shot away from outside the area, but Pickford gets a touch to send the ball out for the corner.

8.04pmCHANCE! Nathan Redmond has a shot from outside the area - a distance he's been successful from in the past - but he gets it all wrong. High, wide and not so handsome. All England now.

8.03pmMuch better from England now, who have picked up the pace at Deepdale. Targett gets to the end of a neat passing move, but his cross couldn't find an England shirt.

8.01pmCHANCE! Brilliant play from Nathan Redmond, who dribbles past his marker before launching a lofted pass for Dele Alli, who finds the pass with an overhead kick, but his shot flies over the bar. Best moment for England so far. 0-0

7.59pmBetter from England, as Targett puts in a low cross from the left, but the ball is beyond the reach of Woodrow and falls safely into the hands of Cropper.

7.58pmUSA have started with a rigid 4-4-2 formation, and the hosts are struggling to find a way through at the moment. Will England unlock the door soon?

7.56pmCHANCE! Chambers reaches the cross with a header, but his effort loops over the net. 0-0

7.55pmFree kick to the hosts as Loftus-Cheek is brought down by Rodriguez. Ward Prowse to deliver from the right.

7.55pmNo real chances with ten minutes gone in this one. England comfortable on the ball, but aren't creating much yet.

7.53pmStrong challenge by Targett leaves Okwuonu on the ground, but the referee allows the game to continue.

7.50pmUSA looking a little uncomfortable at the back, as O'Neill struggles to deal with a Ward-Prowse through ball. The ball is scrambled away for a corner, but nothing comes of the set piece.

7.48pmEngland dominating the ball in the opening moments at Deepdale, with Alli and Ibe in particular catching the eye so far.

7.47pmIbe has started on the right wing by the way, in front of his Liverpool teammate Gomez. Redmond starts on the left.

7.46pmSloppy back pass from Eric Dier forces Jordan Pickford to touch the ball out for a USA corner, but the delivery is straight at the England keeper.

7.45pmKICK OFF! It begins! England control possession from the off, settling into a 4-3-3 as expected and knocking the ball around in their own half.

7.44pmAnd with the handshakes the pre-match formalities are almost over, let's quickly recap the sides. Jordan Pickford, Joe Gomez, Jordon Ibe and Dele Alli will make their first appearances for Gareth Southgate's side, with Cauley Woodrow up front. Fulham's Emerson Hyndman and MK Dons goalkeeper Cody Cropper start for the visitors, with former Birmingham City defender on the bench.

7.40pmKick off is just five minutes away now. Can this new-look England Under-21s team live up to its billing, or will USA Under-23s provide a shock in Preston tonight?

7.37pmBlackburn Rovers legend and Oldham Athletic midfielder David Dunn is in the house!

7.34pmEngland go all North London at the back, with Dier and Chambers playing at the heart of the defence. Dier has started the season for Spurs in midfield alongside Nabil Bentaleb, but the former Sporting Lisbon man returns to his favoured position for the Three Lions tonight.
© AFP

7.31pmOn tonight's selection, Southgate has told BT Sport: "We've picked a team that we like the look of. "[Woodrow] has played with us in the past, he knows our style of play. He can hold the ball up and we've got midfield players who like to get forward, so it's a good opportunity for him."

7.26pmThere's renewed hope for England Under-21s now though, not least because of the many fresh faces in the group, and Gareth Southgate is full of optimism.
© Getty Images
Southgate told The FA's official website last week: "We really do have a good depth of talent coming through so we hope that over the next two years, the potential in this group can overcome our first challenge which is to reach the Euro Finals and then go from there."

7.22pmBack in June, Gareth Southgate took a group full of talent to the European Under-21 Championship in the Czech Republic, but the side struggled in the group stage. After a 1-0 defeat by Portugal, Jesse Lingard provided renewed hope to the Three Lions by firing a late winner against Sweden in the second match. But England were demolished by a well-organised Italy side, and ultimately finished bottom of the group.

7.19pmPickford, on loan from Sunderland, spoke to The FA's official site today about making his England Under-21s debut. "I've played for the other year groups, but U21s is the main one that you really want to do before it all comes down to it," Pickford said. "To make my debut for the U21s would be an honour, a massive privilege and all of the hard work over the years has paid off."

7.16pmJordan Pickford will also pick up his first cap for England Under-21s tonight, having been understudy to Jack Butland in recent squads. The 21-year-old is currently on loan at Preston North End, where he has impressed so far this season, and he will play on home turf tonight in Lancashire.
© Getty Images

7.13pmKeep an eye out for Emerson Hyndman in midfield for the visitors too - he's currently at Championship side Fulham, where he has made nine league appearances.

7.10pmBut that doesn't mean for a moment that this match will be a walkover for England! With the restrictive wage structure of the MLS, teams from across the pond give plenty of opportunities to young players, and the side that starts tonight has some considerable talent and experience.

7.09pmAs for the USA Under-23s, not too many household names for British fans. Former Southampton keeper Cody Cropper starts for the visitors, while ex-Birmingham City defender Will Packwood is on the bench.

7.06pmJames Ward-Prowse, as expected, will make his first start as captain of the side.
© Getty Images
He told The FA's official site how proud he was to receive the armband yesterday. "It's a great honour, everybody's dream is to play for England and represent their country at the highest level and to get the honour of the armband is a great privilege for me and something that I'm going to cherish," said the Southampton youngster. "Being a captain is something that has always been a big driving force of mine and something I've always wanted to do. "So I'm lucky that I've been given the privilege of doing it and I can't wait to take the armband."

7.04pmFulham's Cauley Woodrow gets the nod up front by Southgate, and the big man will pick up his second cap for England U21s tonight. Redmond and Ibe have both started the season well, so the fans will hopefully see some goals at Deepdale tonight.

7.03pmEngland's back line looks particularly strong, with Arsenal's Calum Chambers and Tottenham's Eric Dier at centre-back. Gomez will begin at right-back, while Matt Targett of Southampton will start on the left.

7.01pmSo there will be debuts for Dele Alli, Joe Gomez and Jordon Ibe in a strong-looking England U21s outfit tonight, with all 10 outfield players having Premier League experience.

6.59pmUSA SUBS: Steffen, Carter-Vickers, Packwood, Serna, Ariyibi, Gil, Joya, Horvath, Sorto, Polster, Rubin, Tall

6.59pmENGLAND SUBS: Gunn, Iorfa, Hause, Stephens, Chalobah, Forster-Caskey, March, Watmore, Wilson

6.55pmUSA XI: Cropper; Okwuonu, Miazga, Miller, O'Neill; Trapp, Pelosi, Hyndman; Rodriguez, Kiesewetter, Hernandez

6.54pmENGLAND XI: Pickford; Gomez, Chambers, Dier, Targett; Loftus-Cheek, Ward-Prowse, Alli; Ibe, Woodrow, Redmond

6.53pmThe team news is in...

6.53pmThose names include Liverpool pair Jordon Ibe and Joe Gomez, who have both made encouraging starts to the season with the Reds. Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli could also make his first appearance after scoring against Leicester City on Saturday, August 22, while strikers Chuba Akpom, James Wilson and Duncan Watmore could all feature for the first time.

6.49pmSouthgate called up ten new faces to the squad that plays tonight, although Everton defender Brendan Galloway has withdrawn with injury, leaving nine ready to make their first appearances at Deepdale tonight.

6.45pmGood evening and welcome to Sports Mole's full match commentary of England Under-21s vs. USA Under-23s at Deepdale, Preston. The hosts have a new-look squad following their disappointing campaign at the European Under-21 Championship earlier this summer, and coach Gareth Southgate will be hoping to get the new season off to a good start tonight.
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