England U-21 2-0 Bulgaria U-21
Stuart Pearce's England Under-21 side showed Steve McClaren's senior squad how to win at international football by beating their Bulgarian counterparts 2-0 at the MK Dons Stadium. Pearce's side recorded their fifth straight win in qualifying for Euro 2009, thanks to Gabriel Agbonlahor's header and James Milner's late penalty.
But it was Arsenal youngster Theo Walcott who caught the eye, being named Man of the Match for his performance on the right-wing, and it was the former Southampton man who won the late spot kick that made the game safe.
It wasn't all plain sailing, however, as in the first half England looked unsure of the direction they should have been taking and appeared vulnerable against a nimble and inventive Bulgaria attack.
England's youngsters stayed on the front foot, though, and succeeded in forcing a breakthrough four minutes before the interval, as Milner checked onto his right foot and floated a cross towards Gabriel Agbonlahor that the Aston Villa forward powerfully headed home off an upright.
Leicester City's 17-year-old left-back Joe Mattock immediately had to back-heel off the line when Valeri Domovchiyski's cross shot deflected off Joe Hart, but England took control in the second period, largely thanks to Walcott.
The 18-year-old dominated proceedings, and but for uncharacteristic waywardness in front of goal, he would have taken home the match ball.
His hard work was eventually rewarded when an adventurous run was ended by goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov, and Milner stroked home the penalty with ten minutes remaining to set Pearce's side up for a testing trip to face Portugal on Tuesday.
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