New recruits makes Pearce hopeful of finals place

• England U21 2-0 Azerbaijan U21• Jonjo Shelvey contributes with both a goal and an assist

Following his role of leading Team GB during the Olympics, Stuart Pearce is back coaching England U-21s. Photograph: Matt Lewis - The Fa/The FA via Getty Images

Stuart Pearce is hopeful his England side have done enough to set up a place in the UEFA Under-21 Championship play-offs following today's victory in Azerbaijan.

Jonjo Shelvey scored one and set up another as the Young Lions won 2-0 in Baku to move to within touching distance of a two-leg showdown next month for a place in next summer's finals.

Liverpool midfielder Shelvey's first goal at this level followed Steven Caulker's third to send Pearce's men five points clear at the top of qualifying Group Eight with one match remaining.

That is on Monday against Norway, whose win in Belgium in tonight's late kick-off leaves them needing to beat England in Chesterfield in four days' time to deny their rivals a place in next month's two-legged play-offs.

Pearce said afterwards: "We are pleased to have won the match and hopefully that puts us in a situation that sees us in the play-offs.

"We gave our best. We've played better, but this was my strongest team available.

"Whenever you play international football, there is an expectation on your team and we knew Norway were putting pressure on us to win the group with their game tonight, in Belgium."

Today's victory was the Young Lions' sixth out of their seven qualifiers and saw Pearce hand a debut to Thomas Ince, son of former England star Paul, on an artificial pitch against opponents England had thrashed 6-0 a year earlier.

Azerbaijan had bounced back from that result, winning their two qualifiers prior to today's defeat.

Pearce added: "I think it was the game we expected it to be, a very tight game.

"Azerbaijan are an improving nation. The first two group games were difficult for them, coming to England and Belgium.

"Since then, their results have been very, very good."

Since the Under-21s last played in February, Pearce has once again lost some of his star men to the senior side while Jack Rodwell and Henri Lansbury both missed today's game through injury.

Goalkeeper Jason Steele was forced to sit out today's match through illness, with Ben Amos starting, while Ben Marshall also made his debut as a second-half substitute.

Pearce, who himself took a break from the Under-21s to mastermind Great Britain's Olympic campaign this summer, added: "We've not had our players together for a long time and we had a number of debuts tonight.

"International football can be very nervous until you get three or four goals, and tonight that wasn't the case for us."

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Ditulis oleh: Unknown - Wednesday, August 15, 2012