England U21 9-0 San Marino U21

England Under-21s earned a record win as they demolished San Marino to maintain their lead at the top of their Euro 2015 qualifying group.

Boss Gareth Southgate asked his side to be more ruthless after beating Finland and they were 5-0 up at half-time.

Danny Ings and Raheem Sterling both grabbed a goal in each half with Michael Keane, James Ward-Prowse and Thomas Ince on target before the break.

Carl Jenkinson and Will Hughes also scored in the biggest win in 37 years.

England goalscorers

• 13 mins: Michael Keane header
• 15: Raheem Sterling's run and finish
• 18: Danny Ings header
• 24: James Ward-Prowse 25-yard free-kick
• 42: Thomas Ince tap-in
• 48: Ings pokes in after Jesse Lingaard run
• 59: Sterling lobs in Ince pass
• 60: Carl Jenkinson near-post finish
• 78: Will Hughes 18-yard shot

England Under-21s beat Finland 8-1 in 1977 and Azerbaijan 7-0 four years ago, but this was greatest winning margin since the side began competing in 1976.

Victory keeps England in charge of Group One going into the winter break, three points ahead of nearest challengers Moldova with a game in hand.

But they were never seriously challenged by a San Marino side who barely got out of their own half.

Birmingham striker Jesse Lingaard impressed on his full debut, as did Ince, who set up four goals before being substituted in the second half.

And after a dismal European Championship last summer, it showed that not only are Southgate's side growing into a skilful team, they can follow the coach's instructions by pressing for more goals despite the calibre of their opposition.

Burnley's Ings, whose 10 league goals this season have helped Burnley surge to the top of the Championship, was keen to get on the scoresheet on his full debut and after his early shot was saved, Keane headed in Ince's corner.

Two minutes later at Shrewsbury's Greenhous Meadow Stadium, Liverpool forward Sterling played a neat one-two before receiving a couple of fortunate bounces to prod in, and Ings' header from Ince's left-wing cross was a fine finish soon after.

Southampton's Ward-Prowse then underlined his growing reputation as an expert free-kick taker by curling in from 25 yards before Ince tapped in Ings' cross.

Three minutes after the break, the goals continued as Ings beat Jenkinson to the ball to poke in after Lingaard bundled through the San Marino defence.

Ince then claimed his third and fourth assist of the night by providing passes for Sterling's lob and Jenkinson's near-post finish.

It took 74 minutes for Davide Cesarini to register San Marino's first attempt of the night, but it was miles over before Hughes smashed in a ninth goal on an entertaining night for a youthful home crowd.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

England U21

• 1ButlandSubstituted forBondat 45'minutes
• 2Jenkinson
• 5StonesSubstituted forDierat 61'minutes
• 6Keane
• 3Robinson
• 4Hughes
• 8Ward-Prowse
• 7InceSubstituted forBamfordat 65'minutes
• 10Lingard
• 11Sterling
• 9Ings

Substitutes

• 12Shaw
• 13Bond
• 14Chalobah
• 15Dier
• 16Zaha
• 17Bamford
• 18Morrison

San Marino U21

• 1ManzaroliSubstituted forBerardiat 83'minutes
• 2Proli
• 4Brolli
• 6Biordi
• 5CiambottaSubstituted forFaetaniniat 69'minutes
• 3Maiani
• 11Battistini
• 8Colombini
• 10Golinucci
• 7LiveraniSubstituted forCesariniat 69'minutes
• 9Bernardi

Substitutes

• 12Berardi
• 13Angelini
• 14Baizan
• 15Cesarini
• 16Faetanini
• 17Zavoli
• 18Zonzini

Referee:

Jarl Jónsson

Match Stats

Home TeamEngland U21Away TeamSan Marino U21

Possession

Home81%

Away19%

Shots

Home34

Away2

Shots on Target

Home15

Away0

Corners

Home9

Away0

Fouls

Home12

Away6

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, England U21 9, San Marino U21 0.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, England U21 9, San Marino U21 0.

Posted at 90'+5'

Attempt saved. Will Hughes (England U21) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jesse Lingard.

Posted at 90'+2'

Attempt missed. Jesse Lingard (England U21) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Danny Ings.

Posted at 90'

Attempt missed. Jesse Lingard (England U21) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Carl Jenkinson with a cross.

Posted at 90'

Raheem Sterling (England U21) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 90'

Foul by Eugenio Colombini (San Marino U21).

Posted at 89'

Foul by Patrick Bamford (England U21).

Posted at 89'

Davide Cesarini (San Marino U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 88'

Corner, England U21. Conceded by Angelo Faetanini.

Posted at 88'

Attempt blocked. Jack Robinson (England U21) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jesse Lingard.

Posted at 88'

Raheem Sterling (England U21) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Manuel Battistini (San Marino U21).

Posted at 85'

Foul by Jack Robinson (England U21).

Posted at 85'

Manuel Battistini (San Marino U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 85'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 84'

Delay in match (England U21).

Posted at 83'

Attempt saved. Patrick Bamford (England U21) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the centre of the goal.

Posted at 83'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Substitution

Posted at 83'

Substitution, San Marino U21. Michele Berardi replaces Andrea Manzaroli because of an injury.

Posted at 80'

Delay in match Andrea Manzaroli (San Marino U21) because of an injury.

Posted at 79'

Foul by Patrick Bamford (England U21).

Posted at 79'

Andrea Manzaroli (San Marino U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Goal!

Posted at 78'

Goal! England U21 9, San Marino U21 0. Will Hughes (England U21) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Raheem Sterling.

Posted at 75'

Attempt missed. Jesse Lingard (England U21) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Jack Robinson.

Posted at 74'

Attempt missed. Davide Cesarini (San Marino U21) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.

Substitution

Posted at 69'

Substitution, San Marino U21. Davide Cesarini replaces Lorenzo Liverani.

Substitution

Posted at 69'

Substitution, San Marino U21. Angelo Faetanini replaces Mirco Ciambotta.

Posted at 69'

Corner, England U21. Conceded by Cristian Brolli.

Posted at 67'

Foul by Jack Robinson (England U21).

Posted at 67'

Gian Luca Proli (San Marino U21) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 67'

Foul by James Ward-Prowse (England U21).

Posted at 67'

Eugenio Colombini (San Marino U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 66'

Attempt missed. Michael Keane (England U21) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by James Ward-Prowse with a cross following a corner.

Substitution

Posted at 65'

Substitution, England U21. Patrick Bamford replaces Thomas Ince because of an injury.

Posted at 65'

Corner, England U21. Conceded by Andrea Manzaroli.

Posted at 65'

Attempt saved. Will Hughes (England U21) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Danny Ings.

Posted at 64'

Attempt saved. Eric Dier (England U21) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Carl Jenkinson with a cross.

Posted at 63'

Attempt blocked. Danny Ings (England U21) left footed shot from very close range is blocked.

Posted at 63'

Attempt blocked. Michael Keane (England U21) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.

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