Ollie Watkins and Curtis Jones seize their chance to help England sink Greece

Nations League B, Group 2: Greece 0 England 3 (Watkins 7, Vlachodimos 78, Jones 83)

It was the night Lee Carsley dropped Harry Kane and smelled like roses. This was a result not only to avenge the formless 2-1 defeat at Wembley to Greece in October, but to put England on the brink of automatic promotion back to the Nations League. A section.

It’s hard to remember Kane ever being suspended for an England match, let alone a big match that you have to win – rather than rested or substituted. And it was especially bold of Carsley, considering he didn’t have any big names.

It had to be Kane’s replacement, Ollie Watkins, who scored the opening goal in the seventh minute and there were others who took their chances, bringing in Noni Madueke on the right flank but actually culminating with Curtis Jones. On the occasion of his first cap, he put his best foot forward in central midfield and produced the moment of the evening: a stunning first-time goal from behind after a pass from substitute, Morgan Gibbs-White, to make it 3-0.

Jude Bellingham, also impressive, had forced the second after a surging run, another surging run, as he watched his low shot hit the post and go in via the Greek goalkeeper, Odysseas Vlachodimos. It allowed Carsley to reflect on coming close to achieving the goal the Football Association had set for him during his interim period: lifting the team out of the second tier of the Nations League. England moved above Greece to the top of the table based on head-to-head results. They now need to beat the Republic of Ireland at Wembley on Sunday to complete the deal.

It was an inexperienced England XI in a boisterous venue, Kane’s omission from the start so much. Carsley had gambled in Kane’s injury-induced absence against Greece at Wembley, deploying a full attack, 4-2-4 with an array of attacking midfielders. This move was riskier. Kyle Walker had taken over as captain. He looked stony-faced when asked beforehand about Kane’s exclusion.

Carsley’s mission was to break the negativity that accompanied the controversy over the delayed arrival of Thomas Tuchel as the new permanent manager; he should have been here. And of course the nine withdrawals from the squad, the idea that the culture Gareth Southgate had instilled had eroded. The club versus country battles were back.

England needed a fast start and they got it, the move for the early breakthrough easy on the eye, the identity of the goalscorer a dream for Carsley. Madueke tapped the ball to Bellingham and got it back on the right flank and from there it was him against Christos Tzolis. Madueke pulled off the stop-and-go move, the acceleration around the outside too much for his opponent, the cut-back perfect. Watkins made the finish look simple.

There was plenty for England to contend with. The home fans didn’t need the pre-match presentation to Otto Rehhagel and his Euro 2004-winning Greek players to get their hearts racing. They were ready. On a more sinister note, someone in the stands repeatedly shone a luminous green laser on the faces of the England players. That was clearly visible on the field.

England could take heart from the way Madueke and Anthony Gordon paced their markers. Gordon had signaled his intention in the second minute, skating flawlessly and sending in a low ball that reached Madueke. His shot was blocked. Gordon had another good moment in the 16th minute when he cut inside, but his shot went wide. Get the ball to Madueke and Gordon; It seemed like a good recipe to me.

The referee, Daniel Siebert, was in the mood to be seen, which was worrying. He booked Bellingham early on for dissent after awarding a free-kick against him; then immediately Conor Gallagher for delaying the restart. A harsh yellow card followed for wasting time against Jordan Pickford halfway through the first half. It was easy to fear a red card.

Greece had one chance in the first half and it was a big one. Kostas Tsimikas exchanged passes on the inside left with Tzolis and, as Walker failed to follow the track, hit a low shot for the near corner. Pickford made an excellent response.

Other than that, England were comfortable until the break. Bellingham showed up, a physical presence, putting forward runs including one on mid-on that was stopped by Konstantinos Koulierakis. Just before half-time, Rico sent Lewis Watkins clean through, but he never looked like he would be decisive. Once again Koulierakis got good results.

Carsley handed Jones his debut and watched him push his chest out and zip up his stride, always looking for a sharp turn to make something happen. There would be another debut at the start of the second half, Lewis Hall at left back for Ezri Konsa, Lewis would move to right back and Walker would move to right centre-back.

Madueke picked up where he left off on the restart, running hard towards Tsimikas and making his moves. It was no surprise that Tsimikas was replaced in the 55th minute.

By then Madueke had advanced and picked out Lewis, who took a touch before pulling off a fine save from Vlachodimos. Madueke also crossed for Bellingham from a half-cleared corner and saw him direct a long-range header, which bounced, against the far post.

Gallagher stepped on a tightrope after his yellow card and rolled the dice with disaster as he stepped into Christos Zafeiris, who made a meal of the extremely light contact. Greece broke instead and the ball was worked to substitute Fotis Ioannidis, who held off Walker for the shot. It was a clear opening. Pickford made a smart save.

Carsley introduced Kane in the 66th minute, along with Jarrod Bowen and Morgan Rogers, who won his first cap. The substitutes brought energy and Rogers was able to enjoy the pass around the corner that put Bellingham at bay and scored the second goal. The final word would belong to Jones.

Greece: Vlachodimos, Rota, Mavropanos, Koulierakis, Tsimikas (Pelkas 57), Siopis (Mantalos 82), Zafeiris, Masouras (Konstantelias 70), Bakasetas (Ioannidis 57), Tzolis, Pavlidis (Giannoulis 56).

England: Pickford, Walker, Konsa (Hall 46), Guehi, Lewis, Gallagher (Gibbs-White 79), Jones, Madueke (Bowen 66), Bellingham, Gordon (Rogers 66), Watkins (Kane 66).

Referee: Daniel Siebert (Germany).