England ease past Albania

Alan Smith opened the scoring with a fine low struck shot on 34 minutes, before Downing doubled the lead with a left foot volley after goalkeeper Arjan Beqaj had failed to clear David Bentley's cross.

Besart Berisha, England's tormentor-in-chief throughout the first half, pulled back a goal with a cracking strike just before half-time, though Downing made sure the evening was a positive one for England, finishing clinically from Owen's fine pass a quarter of an hour into the second half.

Owen may leave frustrated at his failure to get his name onto the scoresheet in a rather low-key performance, though the fact he came through the full 90 minutes unscathed will be of greater significance to Steve McClaren.

The Newcastle striker's best chance of the match came in the fifth minute after Aaron Lennon's pace had taken him beyond his marker on the left flank. Lennon pulled the ball back invitingly into the path of Owen, though he pushed his right foot shot beyong the far post.

It was to be Lennon's only action of note, as he limped off after picking up a knock on his ankle moments later, and was replaced by Downing.

Debutant Nicky Shorey enjoyed an eventful first half, and showed no hesitation in coming forward to support Downing on the left flank, though struggled to cope defensively with the trickery and pace of Berisha.

The Hamburg winger was inches away from putting his side into the lead on 20 minutes after cutting inside from the by-line and skipping past three men, though saw his fierce left foot shot come back off the crossbar with Scott Carson beaten.

Though themselves not at full strength, Albania contributed to an absorbing game, and a poor header from Phil Nevilla provided them with an inviting three-on-two opportunity, though Alban Bushi fired tamely at Carson from the right flank.

Smith showed no such profligacy moments later, firing home the first goal of the night after Gareth Barry had controlled Shorey's cross beautifully, and teed up the Manchester United man on the edge of the area.

England doubled their lead on the very next attack. Jermaine Jenas released Bentley with a neat chipped pass in behind the defence on the right flank, and Beqaj could only tip the ball on to Downing, who drove a firm left foot volley straight back past the stranded 'keeper.

Berisha got the goal his first-half efforts deserved just before the break, evading Ledley King and lashing a superb 25 yard strike past Carson and into the top left hand corner.

England again emerged the stronger side after the break, with Bentley's crossing proving a constant source of problems for the Albanian defence, though their height advantage over both Owen and Smith ensured they won the aerial battles.

There was nothing they could do about England's third goal though, as Owen slipped in Downing just before the hour mark, who dinked a neat chip over the onrushing 'keeper.

A raft of changes from both sides interrupted the rhythm of the game, though Albania's verve of the first period was now long gone, and it was the home side who finished the stronger.

Substitute Jermaine Defoe squandered a good chance to get his name onto the scoresheet, firing straight at the 'keeper after Jenas had seized upon a loose pass, and Owen too could have capped his return with a goal, though could not react to an air-kick from a defender from a cross from Downing.