Ollie Watkins and Curtis Jones seize their chance to help England sink Greece | Nations League

It was the night when Lee Carsley dropped Harry Kane and came up smelling of roses, this result not only to avenge the uncharacteristic 2-1 defeat at Wembley against Greece in October, but to put England on the brink of automatic promotion back to the Nations Leagues. A section.

It’s hard to remember Kane ever being left out for an England game, let alone a big must-win one – instead of being rested or rotated. And it was especially cool from Carsley as he was without a host of big names.

It had to be Kane’s replacement, Ollie Watkins, who scored the opening goal in the seventh minute, and there were others who seized their opportunity, bringing on Noni Madueke on the right wing, but in reality making do with Curtis Jones. On the occasion of his first cap, he strutted his stuff in central midfield and produced the moment of the night, a stunning first-time backhand finish from a pass from substitute Morgan Gibbs-White to make it 3-0.

Jude Bellingham, also impressive, had forced the second towards the end after a surging run, another surging run, seeing his low shot hit the post and go in past Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos. It prompted Carsley to reflect that he almost achieved the goal the Football Association had set for him during his interim tenure – to lift the team out of the Nations League’s second tier. England moved above Greece to top the table on head-to-head results. They must now beat the Republic of Ireland at Wembley on Sunday to seal the deal.

It was an inexperienced England XI, Kane’s omission framed as much. Carsley had played in Kane’s injury-enforced absence against Greece at Wembley, going all-out, 4-2-4 with an array of attacking midfielders. This move was more risky. Kyle Walker had taken over the captaincy. He was stone-faced when asked about Kane’s ban beforehand.

Carsley’s mission was to cut through the negativity which took in the controversy over Thomas Tuchel’s delayed arrival as the future permanent manager; he should have been here. And of course the nine withdrawals from the squad, the idea that the culture instilled by Gareth Southgate had been eroded. The matches between club and country were back.

England needed a quick start and they got it, move to the early breakthrough easy overview, the goalscorer’s identity a dream for Carsley. Madueke passed the ball to Bellingham and he got it back up the right flank and from there it was him against Christos Tzolis. Madueke pulled the stop-and-go move, the acceleration around the outside too much for his opponent, the cut-back perfect. Watkins made the finish look straightforward.

There was plenty for England to contend with, starting with a fired-up home crowd. On a more ominous note, someone in the stands repeatedly shone a bright green laser at the faces of the England players.

England could take heart from how Madueke and Anthony Gordon had their markers for pace. Gordon had signaled his intent in the second minute when he skated clear to send in a low ball that reached Madueke. His shot was blocked. Gordon had another good moment in the 16th minute when he cut inside only for his shot to deflect wide.

The referee, Daniel Siebert, was in the mood to be seen, which was a concern. He booked Bellingham early for dissent after the award of a free kick against him; then Conor Gallagher immediately to delay the restart. There was a harsh yellow card for time wasting against Jordan Pickford midway through the first half. It was easy to fear that a red card might come.

Greece had one chance in the first half and it was a big one. Kostas Tsimikas traded passes on the inside left with Tzolis and when Walker failed to track, he struck a low shot into the near corner. Pickford made a fine reaction save.

Apart from that, England were comfortable up to the interval. Bellingham emerged, a physical presence, driving forward runs, including a halfway stop by Konstantinos Koulierakis. Just before the break, Rico Lewis sent Watkins clean through, but he never looked like he would be decisive.

Carsley watched Jones puff out his chest and zip his passes, always looking to turn sharply and make something happen. Picking up where he left off after the restart, Madueke ran hard at Tsimikas and made his moves. It was no surprise to see Tsimikas substituted in the 55th minute.

By then Madueke had pushed and picked out Lewis, who took a touch before pulling a fine save out of Vlachodimos. Madueke also crossed for Bellingham after a half-cleared corner saw him curl a long-range header wide of the far post.

Gallagher was disastrous when he stepped on Christos Zafeiris, although the midfielder made a meal of the slight touch. Greece broke instead, the ball worked to substitute Fotis Ioannidis, who held off Walker for the shot. It was a clear opening. Pickford saved smartly.

Carsley brought on Lewis Hall at left-back for his debut at half-time and there would be a first cap for Morgan Rogers on the left wing during the triple change on 66 minutes which saw Kane introduced. The substitutes brought energy and Rogers was able to revel in the round-corner pass that put Bellingham away to set up the second goal. The last word belonged to Jones.