Mubama on target as Carsley's England U21s edge Ireland

Ireland’s Trent Koné-Doherty with Rico Lewis of England. Pic: Michael Zemanek/Inpho

England 2 Republic of Ireland 0

Striker Divin Mubama scored one penalty and missed another as England U21s maintained their 100 percent record in the UEFA Championship by beating the Republic of Ireland 2-0.

Stoke's on-loan Manchester City forward scored his third goal on only his fourth appearance with Tyrique George blasting home in stoppage time as the defending champions made it four wins from four having yet to concede.

With Storm Claudia ensuring the match was played in a torrential downpour at St Andrew's, Lee Carsley's side refused to be blown off course as they closed the gap to Group D leaders Slovakia to one point with a match in hand.

But it was not only the conditions which made things difficult as the visitors, whose own unbeaten record was ended, put up serious resistance.

England should have been ahead midway through the first half when George cut in from the right and was brought down after Adam Murphy dangled a leg.

However, Mubama's penalty was poor, placed too close to goalkeeper Noah Jauny.

Ireland briefly threatened when Jacob Devaney cross seemed destined for the top corner until Tommy Setford stuck up a hand to tip over but the final action of the half saw Mubama head wide a George cross.

The visitors were several minutes late for the start of the second half but the additional time appeared to have benefited them as they started brightly with Liverpool's Trent Kone-Doherty whipping in a 25-yard shot which just dipped over the crossbar.

But having weathered the storm Lewis Hall brought down by half-time substitute Jad Hakiki and while Mubama's second penalty was not entirely convincing it had enough on it to go in despite the keeper guessing the right way and getting a hand to it.

Chelsea midfielder Jamie Gittens' departure straight down the tunnel with an apparent injury was a blow but despite a number of other changes England finished strongly with Thierry Small's cross was almost deflected in before George capped a good individual performance by rifling home an angled shot.

ENGLAND U21: Setford, Lewis (Small 70), Acheampong, Alleyne, Hall (Norton-Cuffy 70), Nwaneri, Bellingham, Miley (Peck 75), George, Mubama (Dibling 75), Bynoe-Gittens (King 61). 

REP OF IRELAND U21: Jauny, Abankwah, Okagbue, Grehan, McManus, Akachukwu (Hakiki 46), Lipsiuc (Mullins 86), Devaney, Adam Murphy (Moorhouse 82), Kone-Doherty, Melia (O'Mahony 69). 

REFEREE: Demetrescu (ROU)