[Mighty T.A.L.]

Downing double sinks Albania

On a night in which all eyes were on a returning Michael Owen, England's B side were impressive in putting Albania to the sword 3-1 at Turf Moor.

The Newcastle man looked sharp throughout in completing a full 90 minutes and although he would have loved to have capped a busy performance with a goal, he still more than played his part in a victory that saw Alan Smith and Stewart Downing with a brace do the damage.

Albania's impressive striker Besart Berisha scored a fine goal of his own, and also hit the bar, but overall Steve McClaren will be quietly pleased with those players hakering after senior honours.

Of those pressing for inclusion in McClaren's squad for the forthcoming friendly with Brazil and Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia, it was perhaps Downing, David Bentley and Gareth Barry that did their cause the greatest good.

With the focus of attention on Owen, had he adhered to the script then he would surely have netted, rather than pull his shot wide, from Aaron Lennon's left wing pull-back on just six minutes.

More worrying, though, than any lack of a finish was the sight of Lennon hobbling off just minutes later to be replaced by Downing.

England dominated possession for long spells but Albania were bright on the counter and in Berisha had an outstanding individual performer and it was he that beat Carson, but not the crossbar, from distance at a time when the two sides were level.

Smith's opener came in the 34th minute and involved Reading's buccaneering full-back Nicky Shorey, who played into the feet of the busy Barry and from his lay-off, from the edge of the box, the Manchester United man slammed his shot past Arjan Beqaj.

Buoyed by Smith's goal, England set about going for Albania's jugular and succeeding in doubling their advantage, when Downing's cultured left foot pinged home from 12 yards, after Beqaj failed to deal with Bentley's cross under pressure from Owen.

Albania, though, were full of spirit and with just a minute of the first period remaining, Berisha shrugged off Ledley King before crashing a fine strike into Carson's top corner.

In the second period Owen twice went close with headers, from Bentley's pinpoint deliveries, but it was Downing that settled the contest when after Bentley's clever flick gave Owen possession, his precision pass was met with a sumptuous dinked finish over a crestfallen Beqaj.

England will feel they could have scored more but following the obligatory flurry of substitutions, the game faded in the later stages as substitute Jermain Defoe squandered the best opportunity in firing straight at the feet of Beqaj.

Source: Skysports