Group E/ England 3 Estonia 0: There was only one sort of problem Estonia could set England. Even as non-events go, this was inconsequential.

Steve McClaren might have wished for a slightly more difficult afternoon. A hint of resistance, for example, could have forced Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney to raise their game, thereby carrying out additional work on a partnership that is yet to convince completely.

Still, this match was preferable to the sort of fixture where tempers are lost and cautions collected. The single casualty at Wembley was Ashley Cole, who damaged an ankle - McClaren seemed to accept he would not have the left back for the key game in Russia.

The post may well now be taken by Phil Neville, whose 59 caps make him a more obvious candidate for the Luzhniki Stadium than Saturday's debutant, Joleon Lescott, or Nicky Shorey.

McClaren is entitled to enjoy the relief of all the pressure that threatened to squelch his England career. Following a triptych of 3-0 victories, the manager is remorselessly optimistic.

Get him talking about the artificial surface in Moscow and he expresses such satisfaction with it that you half-expect him to demand that the FA rip up the Wembley turf and lay one there immediately.

McClaren might even tell the players the Luzhniki's plastic pitch will be their flexible friend. This is a shrewd stance; he has to minimise the status of this issue in the minds of the squad.

The Russia side are the greater problem for McClaren. Defeat is still conceivable for England despite their flourishing morale and would put qualification for Euro 2008 in grave doubt. This game must have been to the fore in McClaren's thoughts since his appointment and plans will have been formulated months ago.

It is anticipated that England will adopt a 4-3-3 formation. The expected midfield trio was eventually in place against Estonia when Frank Lampard came off the bench to join Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry. "We looked at that for 20 minutes," said McClaren. "Obviously, if we do go that way, it needs some work."

Arrangements were more traditional on Saturday, when the Newcastle United striker was partnered by Wayne Rooney in a 4-4-2. No one would claim a telepathic connection between them, but the Manchester United forward did keep within hailing distance of Owen. Rooney was in a correct and conventional position to convert Joe Cole's cross, with the aid of a large deflection, and score his first competitive goal for his country in 28 months.

That put England 2-0 ahead.

The opener had come from Shaun Wright-Phillips, who darted inside to take a pass from Micah Richards and fire through the legs of Mart Poom on 11 minutes. The Chelsea winger had also bagged a goal against Israel, but he continues to be erratic in his use of the ball and is expected to make way for Lampard in Wednesday's selection.

The scoring at Wembley was concluded in the 33rd minute by an own-goal to relish from Taavi Rahn, who headed an Ashley Cole ball beyond Poom from 18 yards. No one could trump that. Nor did they attempt to do so. The remainder of the day was given over to clock-watching.

• Guardian Service