England Under-21s 2-0 Uzbekistan Under-21s
Ed Furniss reports from Ashton Gate

England stars of the future brought some cheer to watching England boss Fabio Capello at Ashton Gate tonight.

Second-half goals by Spurs midfielder Danny Rose and Liverpool defender Martin Kelly gave Stuart Pearce's side a deserved 2-0 victory over a hard-working and disclipined Uzbekistan side.

Indeed, the score may have been more convincing were it not for an inspired display by Uzbeck skipper Sanjar Kuvvatov in goal.

A crowd of 9,821 saw England - led by an assured Jack Rodwell in midfield - dominate possession in the first-half without getting the breakthrough their play suggested.

Blackburn centre-back Phil Jones saw a shot cleared off the line in the 20th minute and Chelsea marksman Daniel Sturridge - who scored a brace for Manchester City under-18s on his last visit to Ashton Gate just under three years ago - forced a good save by Kuvvatov shortly before half-time.

When Danny Welbeck headed a cross from Manchester United team-mate Tom Cleverley wide on the hour it looked as though it was just not going to be England's night.

But four minutes later, Rose put those worries to bed with an opportunist strike from 15 yards, after Kuvvatov had parried an initial shot from Sturridge,

The visitors - playing a deep defensive game - almost snatched a shock equaliser four minutes later when Islom Tuhtahujaev sent a free header over the bar.

But debutant Kelly sealed victory with 13 minutes remaining, sending a downward header past Kuvvatov to complete a convincing 2-0 win for Pearce's Young Lions.

The result kept up England's unbeaten record at City's home record, having now won three games and drawn once since 1985.

England: Fielding (McCarthy 77), Walker, Mancienne, Rodwell (Lansbury 61), Smalling, Jones (Kelly 46), Cleverley, Henderson (Cork 46), Sturridge (Albrighton 71), Rose, Moses (Welbeck 46). 

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