England were denied a crucial victory as Kamil Glik's second-half equaliser gave Poland a point they fully deserved in the delayed World Cup qualifier in Warsaw.

Roy Hodgson's side were on course for three points that would have been a generous reward for a mediocre display after Wayne Rooney's deflected header gave them the lead before the interval.

Group H standings

Played Points

England

4

8

Montenegro

3

7

Poland

3

5

Moldova

4

4

Ukraine

3

2

San Marino

3

0

In a game played 24 hours after the initial meeting was washed away in a Warsaw deluge, England struggled to exert any supremacy and it was no surprise when Glik took advantage of a rare misjudgement from keeper Joe Hart to head home a corner with 19 minutes left.

England would have been hoping for a win that could have given them control of a potentially very tight qualifying group, but in the end there may even be a measure of relief that they leave Poland with a draw which leaves them a point clear at the top of Group H.

Moments of quality were rare, not helped by a patchy pitch made worse by the storm that hit the city on Tuesday and forced the game to be held over for a day.

England's campaign now has a mixed appearance, with convincing wins against Moldova and San Marino set against two draws, from meetings with Ukraine and now Poland.

Hodgson's men will resume action with a double header against San Marino and Montenegro in March, the latter fixture in particular now assuming real significance.

The England boss made no late alterations to the team selected for the postponed game - but the lingering effects of the Warsaw rains were seen in the sticky surface, which curtailed Poland's counter-attacking style and emphasised how tentative England's passing was.

Wayne Rooney (right)

Rooney gave England the lead with a deflected header

Rooney's industry was evident when he raced deep into his own territory to cover when Ashley Cole lost the ball but he was as guilty as any England player of gifting the ball back to Poland in an undistinguished first half.

Hart needed to be alert to dive at the feet of Lukasz Piszczek and Kamil Grosicki shot wide as Poland attempted to build momentum, while the dangerous Robert Lewandowski fired across the face of goal after shrugging off Tom Cleverley.

But it was Rooney whose contribution made the difference at half-time as he gave England a 31st minute lead, his header from Steven Gerrard's corner glancing off Piszczek and beyond goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton.

Poland had certainly seen enough to offer encouragement and the momentum was with the hosts after the interval, with Glen Johnson having to rescue Phil Jagielka when his mistake threatened to offer up an opportunity to Lewandowski.

Hart had been relatively untroubled but he was called into action to turn away Ludovic Obraniak's long-range effort.

England were desperately wasteful in possession and were fortunate that Poland had not mustered the quality to punish them for their failings, although they had a chance to extend their lead against the run of play in the 64th minute.

Gerrard's free-kick found Jermain Defoe unmarked at the far post but his finish was uncharacteristically wasteful as he screwed his shot back across the face of goal.

Kamil Glik (right) heads in Poland's equaliser against England

Glik (right) heads in Poland's equaliser against England

It was Defoe's final contribution as he was soon replaced by Danny Welbeck and the change almost brought an instant reward.

The substitute won a race for possession with Polish keeper Tyton but, when he pulled the ball back to Manchester United team-mate Rooney, his finish was hopelessly off target.

Poland's pressure merited an equaliser and it came with 19 minutes left. It was a goal that will not have pleased Hart, who got nowhere near Obraniak's corner as Glik powered home the header.

It was the signal for another England change as Hodgson removed Rooney, who had been poor apart from his goal, and replaced him with the pace of teenager Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The game's closing stages offered moments for each side but ultimately both seemed satisfied with sharing the points.

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (5)

Poland

  • 22 Tyton
  • 02 Glik Booked
  • 14 Wawrzyniak
  • 26 Piszczek
  • 27 Wasilewski
  • 07 Polanski Booked
  • 08 Krychowiak
  • 10 Obraniak (Borysiuk - 90' )
  • 13 Wszolek (Mierzejewski - 63' )
  • 21 Grosicki (Milik - 82' )
  • 09 Lewandowski

Substitutes

  • 01 Kuszczak
  • 12 Skorupski
  • 03 Wojtkowiak
  • 04 Komorowski
  • 24 Perquis
  • 06 Borysiuk
  • 11 Murawski
  • 18 Mierzejewski
  • 19 Sobota
  • 17 Milik
  • 20 Piech
  • 25 Sobiech

England

  • 01 Hart
  • 02 Johnson
  • 03 Cole Booked
  • 05 Jagielka
  • 06 Lescott
  • 04 Gerrard
  • 07 Milner
  • 08 Carrick
  • 11 Cleverley
  • 09 Defoe (Welbeck - 67' )
  • 10 Rooney (Oxlade-Chamberlain - 73' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Ruddy
  • 23 Forster
  • 12 Walker
  • 14 Baines
  • 15 Cahill
  • 16 Shawcross
  • 17 Oxlade-Chamberlain
  • 18 Shelvey
  • 19 Lennon
  • 20 Johnson
  • 21 Carroll
  • 22 Welbeck
Ref: Rocchi
Att: 43,000

Match Stats

Shots

13 9

On target

7 3

Corners

7 4

Fouls

9 6

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:05 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +1:42

The referee blows for offside. Kamil Glik restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +1:00

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adrian Mierzejewski. Jakub Wawrzyniak takes the free kick.

89:06 Substitution

Substitution Ariel Borysiuk replaces Ludovic Obraniak.

88:47

Centre by Ludovic Obraniak, Joe Hart makes a comfortable save.

88:05

Corner from the left by-line taken by Ludovic Obraniak, Joleon Lescott manages to make a clearance.

87:50

Adrian Mierzejewski delivers the ball, Glen Johnson gets a block in.

86:48

A cross is delivered by James Milner, save by Przemyslaw Tyton.

85:20

The ball is swung over by James Milner, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Danny Welbeck misses to the left of the goal.

81:44 Substitution

Substitution (Poland) makes a substitution, with Arkadiusz Milik coming on for Kamil Grosicki.

79:58

Corner taken left-footed by Ludovic Obraniak from the right by-line, Kamil Glik has a headed effort from close in and clears the bar.

79:46

Centre by Kamil Grosicki, blocked by Ashley Cole.

78:44

The ball is delivered by James Milner.

78:17

James Milner decides to take the corner short.

77:34

Corner taken left-footed by Ludovic Obraniak from the right by-line, Marcin Wasilewski gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joe Hart. Joe Hart takes the free kick.

77:10

The ball is swung over by Ludovic Obraniak, save by Joe Hart.

76:54

The ball is swung over by Lukasz Piszczek.

76:12

The ball is swung over by Tom Cleverley, Kamil Glik makes a clearance.

74:38

Corner taken by Tom Cleverley from the right by-line, clearance by Lukasz Piszczek.

74:22

The ball is crossed by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, clearance by Marcin Wasilewski.

72:07

The free kick is delivered left-footed by Ludovic Obraniak from right channel, clearance made by Phil Jagielka.

72:07 Substitution

Substitution Wayne Rooney goes off and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain comes on.

72:07

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ludovic Obraniak by Joleon Lescott.

69:51

Ludovic Obraniak provided the assist for the goal.

69:51 Goal scored

Goal - Kamil Glik - Poland 1 - 1 England Kamil Glik scores a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Poland 1-1 England.

69:23

Corner taken by Ludovic Obraniak from the right by-line,

68:24

Shot from inside the area by Wayne Rooney clears the bar.

67:09

The ball is delivered by Lukasz Piszczek.

66:33 Substitution

Substitution Danny Welbeck replaces Jermain Defoe.

64:57

Steven Gerrard produces a cross, clearance by Marcin Wasilewski.

64:06

Steven Gerrard crosses the ball, Jermain Defoe takes the chance to get an effort at goal.

64:06 Booking

Booking Kamil Glik is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

63:49

Kamil Glik handles the ball and concedes a free kick.

62:19

Free kick taken by Joe Hart.

62:19 Substitution

Substitution Adrian Mierzejewski joins the action as a substitute, replacing Pawel Wszolek.

62:19

The assistant referee signals for offside against Ludovic Obraniak.

60:33

The ball is delivered by James Milner, Jakub Wawrzyniak gets a block in.

59:53

Lukasz Piszczek has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.

58:52

Ludovic Obraniak takes a shot. Glen Johnson gets a block in.

58:41

Lukasz Piszczek sends in a cross, Joleon Lescott manages to make a clearance.

58:31

The ball is sent over by Jakub Wawrzyniak, Wayne Rooney makes a clearance.

56:08

Tom Cleverley challenges Eugen Polanski unfairly and gives away a free kick. Marcin Wasilewski takes the free kick.

54:02

Kamil Grosicki takes a shot. Blocked by Joleon Lescott.

52:59

Pawel Wszolek takes a shot. Save by Joe Hart.

52:36

The ball is delivered by Ludovic Obraniak, clearance made by Glen Johnson.

51:57

A cross is delivered by Lukasz Piszczek, blocked by Joleon Lescott.

51:19

Centre by Wayne Rooney, Marcin Wasilewski makes a clearance.

51:09

The ball is sent over by Steven Gerrard, Marcin Wasilewski manages to make a clearance.

49:31

Ludovic Obraniak takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post.

49:16

Ludovic Obraniak takes a shot. Joe Hart makes a save.

48:57

Pawel Wszolek sends in a cross, Tom Cleverley manages to make a clearance.

47:07

Jermain Defoe takes a shot. Save made by Przemyslaw Tyton.

46:39

Ludovic Obraniak takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Phil Jagielka makes a clearance.

46:18

The ball is crossed by Kamil Grosicki, Glen Johnson makes a clearance.

45:36

Free kick awarded for a foul by Wayne Rooney on Kamil Glik. Kamil Glik restarts play with the free kick.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:00 +0:06 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

43:27

Michael Carrick fouled by Grzegorz Krychowiak, the ref awards a free kick. Steven Gerrard delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel.

42:53

Kamil Grosicki has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.

42:18

Glen Johnson has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses left.

42:10

The ball is delivered by Ashley Cole.

40:30

Steven Gerrard fouled by Grzegorz Krychowiak, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Steven Gerrard.

39:21

Outswinging corner taken by Ludovic Obraniak, clearance made by Wayne Rooney.

39:08

The ball is delivered by Lukasz Piszczek, Joleon Lescott makes a clearance.

37:15 Booking

Booking Ashley Cole is given a yellow card.

36:27

Ludovic Obraniak takes a shot. Tom Cleverley gets a block in.

35:53

James Milner fouled by Robert Lewandowski, the ref awards a free kick. Joe Hart restarts play with the free kick.

35:17

Effort from outside the penalty box by Tom Cleverley goes wide left of the target.

34:38

Eugen Polanski challenges Jermain Defoe unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Steven Gerrard, clearance by Lukasz Piszczek.

33:21

Effort from just outside the area by Jakub Wawrzyniak goes over the bar.

33:06

Centre by Pawel Wszolek, Joleon Lescott manages to make a clearance.

30:12

The assist for the goal came from Steven Gerrard.

30:12 Goal scored

Goal - Wayne Rooney - Poland 0 - 1 England Wayne Rooney grabs a goal from close range to the top right corner of the goal. Poland 0-1 England.

29:35

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Steven Gerrard,

27:53

Robert Lewandowski challenges Joleon Lescott unfairly and gives away a free kick. Phil Jagielka takes the free kick.

27:17

Robert Lewandowski has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.

25:47

Corner taken by Steven Gerrard.

25:35

The ball is delivered by James Milner, Marcin Wasilewski makes a clearance.

25:14

The ball is delivered by James Milner, Jakub Wawrzyniak gets a block in.

24:35

Pawel Wszolek delivers the ball.

23:24

Steven Gerrard takes a shot. Kamil Glik gets a block in.

20:25

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Eugen Polanski by Steven Gerrard. Free kick crossed left-footed by Ludovic Obraniak, clearance by Joleon Lescott.

19:16

Wayne Rooney crosses the ball, comfortable save by Przemyslaw Tyton.

18:53

Kamil Grosicki takes a shot. Joleon Lescott gets a block in.

17:25

Robert Lewandowski fouled by James Milner, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Eugen Polanski.

15:02

The ball is sent over by Pawel Wszolek, Unfair challenge on Phil Jagielka by Robert Lewandowski results in a free kick. Joe Hart takes the free kick.

14:16

James Milner delivers the ball, clearance made by Kamil Glik.

13:03

Jakub Wawrzyniak has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

10:54

Direct free kick taken by Steven Gerrard.

10:54 Booking

Booking Caution for Eugen Polanski.

10:48

Free kick awarded for a foul by Eugen Polanski on Wayne Rooney.

9:42

The ball is sent over by James Milner.

4:26

Tom Cleverley fouled by Lukasz Piszczek, the ref awards a free kick. Ashley Cole restarts play with the free kick.

2:27

Tom Cleverley takes a shot. Blocked by Jakub Wawrzyniak.

0:00

The match gets underway.

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