Gerrard central to McClaren's survival

On a wet and miserable night in Barcelona Steven Gerrard saved Steve McClaren’s job as England manager.

For how long it remains to be seen, but the two goals scored by the Liverpool captain from his preferred position in central midfield steered England to a 3-0 victory which spared them humiliation.

The result was welcome, but make no mistake, this was another wretched England performance.

So wretched that for much of this match McClaren looked to be heading for the history books as the manager of the worst England performance of all-time.

Losing 1-0 to the United States at the World Cup in 1950 is generally regarded as England’s darkest moment.

However, even that aberration would have paled if England had drawn against a nation with a population which would have fitted snugly inside Old Trafford.

During a first-half of abject dimensions that looked a distinct possibility as the travelling England supporters once more summed up the current disillusion which swirls around the national side.

’What a load of rubbish.’ ’You’re not fit to wear the shirt.’ The chants were direct and the vitriol was deserved.

England, just as they had been in the goalless draw against Israel in Tel Aviv, were devoid of ideas and imagination.

Yes, Andorra, 163 in the FIFA rankings, were not afraid to mix it. They were physical. Some of their challenges were sly and overly aggressive. They were baiting Wayne Rooney verbally from the kick-off, clearly aware of his suspect temperament.

They slowed down the action at every turn. Arguing and feigning injury is a despicable way to play football.

They made it as difficult as possible for England. But they were teachers and plumbers and insurance salesmen. Their top earner makes £300 (€442) per week against the £150,000 (€221,200) which John Terry wants from Chelsea.

They should have been swept aside.

However, England under McClaren are a rag-tag of a team. A side shorn of belief and lacking in style. A side which had scored just one goal and not won in five matches before this match.

A side which no longer plays with passion or a semblance of momentum.

Too slow, too static, passing was not precise enough. The whole display was too pedestrian. That was the truth of this victory.

Remember, Andorra were a team who had been beaten 7-0 by Croatia and 5-0 by England in more confident times.

That puts this McClaren victory in perspective but at least there were signs in the second half of a desperate football match that McClaren could influence the ebb and flow as a match progresses.

England certainly came out after the interval with more urgency. Their movement was swifter and when Gerrard smashed home the opener it was a strike with genuine authority from a man playing in the position he prefers in central midfield.

Relief oozed through the white shirts.

Rooney was yellow carded and then substituted just after the hour by Jermain Defoe and, it has to be said, England improved.

They looked more alert, played with more width and started, as McClaren keeps telling us, “to deliver".

Gerrard’s second was a swift interchange and a precise finish and Defoe showed his sharpness to get in a shot which the Andorra goalkeeper palmed for David Nugent to smash home on the line.

Yet on the final whistle the smattering of boos told the real story.

The England fans are not convinced. Not convinced that this manager can take the team to Euro 2008.

For now McClaren is out of jail. The escape, however, is far from complete.