Wolves Host Sell-Out England Clash
Tuesday 25th March, 2008
England 0
Poland 0
A packed Molineux saw Stuart Pearce's England under 21s held to a goalless draw by a plucky Polish team.
The sell out crowd witnessed an entertaining game but one that offered few chances to either side.
England did have an early opportunity when they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Polish box. Craig Gardner drilled the ball through the defensive wall and when keeper Przemyslaw Tyton only managed to block the ball, Luke Moore's follow up was blocked by a defender.
Tyton did well to push away an angled drive from Jerome and then the Blues striker's twisting header went straight to the Polish keeper after a cross from Adam Johnson.
Poland were a threat when they broke forward and Joe Hart did well to cling on to a low effort from Szymon Pawlowski
Johnson went down in the Polish box under a double challenge but the referee, who was right up with play, turned away the penalty appeals.
Just before the interval Tyton dived to his right to hold on to Luke Moore's 25-yard drive.
Half-Time: England 0 Poland 0
Radowslaw Majewski forced a fine save from substitute keeper Tom Heaton who tipped over the Pole's 25-yard left foot volley, but clear cut chances for either side were of a premium.
Tyton blocked from Fraizer Campbell whilst the other good chance of the half fell to Pawlowski whose drive was marginally wide of the far post.
In the post match press conference, coach Pearce said: "I would have liked to have won and got a couple of goals to reward the fantastic effort of the loyal fans who came to support us."
England: Hart (Heaton 45), Mancienne, Fox, Surman (Mattock 88), Onuoha (capt), Shawcross (Dann 65), Gardner (Leadbitter 45), O'Hara, Jerome (Campbell 65), Moore (Derbyshire 65), Johnson.
Booking: Derbyshire (68 - foul).
Poland: Tyton, Kokoszka, Rzezniczak (capt), Kocot, Polczak, Kuklis (Jarka 76), Pawlowski, Glik, Wilk (Danch 45), Majewski, Janczyk (Lewandowski 76).
Unused subs: Szczesny, Cichny, Marciniak, Renusz.
Bookings: Pawlowski (32 - foul), Kuklis (70 - foul), Rzezniczak (80 - foul).
Referee: K. Blom (Netherlands).
Attendance: 28,178.