Gerrard goals give McClaren lifeline

FROM the depths of adversity, Steve McClaren has been handed three lessons that could rescue his career as England manager.

Firstly, that Steven Gerrard must always be England’s central midfield playmaker — with or without Frank Lampard.

Secondly, that if he relies on traditional English characteristics of guts and determination, he is on a hiding to nothing.

Thirdly, that he must find a way to resurrect Wayne Rooney’s England form.

A 3-0 beating of Andorra was a satisfactory result in the end, but only in the end. In the first half, England were abject.

McClaren picked a team brimming with width, yet Stewart Downing and Aaron Lennon saw little of the ball for the first 45 minutes.

Instead, England chose the last resort of the desperate footballer: hopeful balls in the box that these days are nourishing sustenance even to part-time defenders.

As for Rooney...well suffice to say that rarely can such a talented player have performed so badly against such limited opposition, and was substituted after an hour after allowing himself to become involved in petty bickering with his marker.

To make matters even worse, without David Beckham there was not even the threat from set-pieces. In fact the delivery was at times so poor the England fans in the stadium starting chanting “There’s only one David Beckham”.

At half-time, with the boos ringing in their ears, McClaren, his staff and his players finally sorted things out.

In the second half, England did what they should have done from kick-off, and used the slick turf to zip passes between each other at high tempo with pace and purpose.

Those rabbits frozen in the headlights began to thaw out, and their superior technique began to show through at last.

It was indicative of England’s first-half flaws that none of their three goals came from those hopeful balls into the box.

The first saw Lennon dart for the line and deliver a far-post cross to Ashley Cole to head back. Rooney made his one useful contribution to the game, with an excellent lay-off for Gerrard to rifle home.

The second saw Gerrard execute quick one-twos with first Downing and then Rooney’s replacement Jermain Defoe, drag the ball past the last challenge and slide it low into the net.

The Liverpool skipper was involved once again in the third with an astute pass to Defoe, whose shot was half-saved and allowed David Nugent to score on his debut from all of an inch out.

Gerrard had saved McClaren’s skin this time. The England manager cannot afford such a close shave again.

ANDORRA: Alvarez, Sonejee, Lima, Ayala, Bernaus, Escura, Vieira, Genis Garcia, Justo (Fernandez 88), Pujol (Martinez 69), Toscano (Moreno 90).

ENGLAND: Robinson, Richards (Dyer 61), Terry, Ferdinand, Cole, Lennon, Hargreaves, Gerrard, Downing, Johnson (Nugent 79), Rooney (Defoe 61).

Referee: Bruno Miguel Duarte Paixao (Portugal).