World Cup qualifying Group Six, England 2 Azerbaijan 0: Every international match is apt to be described as a learning experience, but the lessons here were all in humility.
While England proceed happily enough at the head of Group Six, there was scant progress of any sort and a goalless Michael Owen made no advance in the record books.
In the rainy north east of England this was a cold shower for the home side, even if the evening's events improved the captain's standing as a pundit.
David Beckham's comment that "the lads" had been impressed by Azerbaijan in Baku appeared to have brought about the convergence of diplomacy and idiocy in the light of the 8-0 drubbing Carlos Alberto's side received in Poland last Saturday.
By half-time, however, the captain might have been repeating his words as proof of unsuspected astuteness. The visitors had been as purposeful in avoiding disgrace as they had been when losing 1-0 to England in Baku last October.
Just before England repaired to the dressingroom to reconsider, the match seemed to jeer at them. If Beckham was amazed to be booked in the 41st minute for playing a pass with his stocking sole after he had returned to the pitch without a boot, or permission, he was even more galled to learn that he had been ruled offside just before Owen tapped in his cut-back in stoppage time.
It had, at least, been an occasion when the target was identified. England generally behaved as if they were groggy inside the area. Owen, supposedly destined his 30th goal for England, was giving the impression of a man visiting the six-yard box for the first time.
Joe Cole supplied more service, with an inswinging cross in the 18th minute, which the goalkeeper blocked from Owen and Beckham inadvertently put against a post from close range. Late in the first half, Owen's inaccuracy was more than severe as he put an Ashley Cole cross well over. The striker was later booked for deliberate handball and misses the next game, in Wales.
There might even have been a goal for the visitors after nine minutes. Ilgar Abdurakhmanov nipped in to win a loose ball and then passed to Rail Malikov. He pushed possession through the middle and Gurban Gurnanov went clear but then put a left-foot shot just wide.
England broke the deadlock after 51 minutes through the irrepressible Wayne Rooney. His taste for adventure never wanes and he was happy to take on and beat Zaur Hashimov and Rashid Sadigov before pulling the ball back. Steven Gerrard was ready with the sure finish, off the underside of the bar, that others had not contrived.
The lead was extended after 62 minutes. The episode started with a penalty appeal when Beckham went down under a challenge by Vugar Guliyev.
While his protests went unheeded Azerbaijan, with undue confidence, tried to go on the attack. Possession was lost and Frank Lampard instantly freed Beckham to record a goal with a confidently taken shot. The captain's complaints over the penalty had turned to exclamations of happiness.
Guardian Service
ENGLAND: Robinson, Gary Neville, Ferdinand (King 77), Terry, Ashley Cole, Beckham (Defoe 84), Gerrard, Lampard, Joe Cole, Rooney (Dyer 77), Owen. Subs Not Used: Carragher, James, Jenas, Heskey. Booked: Beckham, Owen. Goals: Gerrard 51, Beckham 62.
AZERBAIJAN: Kramarenko, Abdurahmanov, Amirbekov (Vugar Guliyev 45), Sadygov, Hadzhiev, Hashymov, Melikov, Bahshiev, Kerimov, Gurban Gurbanov (Ponomarev 76), Nabiev (Ahtyamov 76). Subs Not Used: Hasanzade, Kamal Guliyev, Abbasov, Ilgar Gurbanov. Booked: Vugar Guliyev.
Referee: PM Gomes Costa (Portugal).
