England have laboured to a 2-0 win over Estonia to keep their 100% record in Euro 2016 qualifying intact ahead of the final Group E game.

Theo Walcott opened the scoring on the stroke of half time as the Three Lions finally crowbarred open a stubborn visiting defence at Wembley.

With four minutes left, Raheem Sterling completed the scoring following good work from Jamie Vardy as England stuttered their way to a hard-fought three points.

Here, Sports Mole reviews how the game was won in London.

© Getty Images

Match statistics

ENGLAND
Shots: 25
On target: 8
Possession: 61%
Corners: 10
Fouls: 7

ESTONIA
Shots: 5
On target: 0
Possession: 39%
Corners: 3
Fouls: 14

Was the result fair?

With England overwhelming favourites, the result was never in question. Well, it was not supposed to be, but Estonia certainly made their already-qualified hosts work for the three points. As good as they were defensively, though, a goal was never coming for them at the other end and Joe Hart literally did not have a single save to make. The scoreline was also fair. Despite an abundance of possession and shots, clear-cut chances were few and far between for England who, in truth, never really hit top gear. They did not need to.

England's performance

By virtue of the fact that England were 1/8 favourites, tonight was supposed to be a rout; a goal-laden victory to see them move one step away from finishing Group E with a 100% record. It was anything but easy following a first half in which Roy Hodgson's side huffed and puffed, but blowing down that door was proving hard - very hard - but the breakthrough came in timely fashion.

Walcott would have been disappointed to start on the wing, having called on Hodgson to give him a centre-forward role after impressing through the middle for Arsenal this season, but he occasionally drifted into a number nine position and it proved fruitful eventually. On the stroke of half time, Walcott timed his run perfectly to reach Ross Barkley's superb eye-of-a-needle through-ball, before finishing well.

With 66% possession and 14 attempts in the first half, it seemed like being a case of more of the same after the break and the ineffective Harry Kane summed up his night when he miscued a straightforward volley early in the second half. England continued to camp in their opponents' half to little effect, but second-half substitute Vardy helped put the game beyond a tiring Estonia when he latched on to Kane's flick-on before squaring for the quiet Sterling to tap home from point-blank range.

It was nowhere near as emphatic as expected, but motivation for such a dead rubber was always going to be tricky. Nevertheless, Hodgson and co are just one win away from completing a perfect group-stage campaign and a victory away to Lithuania on Sunday would see them secure it.

Estonia's performance

Estonia brought the second best defensive record in Group E with them to Wembley, and it was easy to see why. Magnus Pehrsson's men were excellent back there. They looked like a well-drilled unit, with the collective organisation needed to thwart England's high-profile attackers. Taijo Teniste, in particular, was excellent as their right-back. He plies his trade in the Norwegian second division, but he proved more than a match for Manchester City's £49m man Sterling and he popped up all over Estonia's defence to keep out England.

Their resistance waned, however, and it would have devastated Pehrrsson, whose side looked relatively comfortable. Suggestions of the floodgates opening after the break also looked far from accurate as Estonia continued to look solid defensively, but a lack of activity at the other end meant that a point never really looked on the cards and Sterling completed the scoring late on.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Ross Barkley: English candidates were certainly at a premium, but it has to be the Everton youngster. Barkley was one of few England players to turn up in both halves and his excellent assist for Walcott's opener proved a pivotal moment.

Biggest gaffe

Teniste was brilliant for 86 minutes but he was far too easily shrugged off the ball by Vardy in the build-up to England's second, and that marred his overall performance somewhat.

Referee performance

Istvan Vad had a couple of England penalty appeals to contend with, but the Hungarian looked to have made the correct call on both occasions. He might have been just as bored as the hosts' goalkeeper Joe Hart based on his lack of involvement.

What next?

England: The Lions return to action on Sunday as they round off their Group E campaign with a trip to Lithuania.

Estonia: They also return on Sunday and now prepare for a home visit of Switzerland.

Written by
Shane Callaghan