High five for Pearce's young pretenders

After peppering the visitors' goal all evening, Pearce's team emphasised their superiority by triumphing from 12 yards, winning the pre-arranged contest 4-3 to put the seal on a near-perfect evening for the recently-deposed Manchester City boss.

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In all, England had 29 attempts on goal as they showed that their unbeaten record this season was no fluke.

But for once the events after the final whistle took centre stage as Pearce, a victim of penalty heartache in the Italia 90 World Cup semi-final against Germany, revealed how the routine is now a core element of England's training sessions.

He said: "Since this summer, after every training session we have had penalties. With the big crowd here, this was a great opportunity to take that up a level.

"I've been to three major championships and lost two of those on penalties. As a manager, it would be folly if I didn't do everything I possibly could to address that. It's not just giving them the pressure, but looking at the technique and giving them feedback. We are pleased it has worked well in training and pleased it has worked well tonight."

The game ended as it had started — with a penalty, which Kieran Richardson confidently converted 10 minutes before the break after full back Peter Pekarik's lunge on Ashley Young left Welsh official Mark Whitby with no option but to point to the spot.

After David Nugent missed his kick completely from four yards out, skipper Nigel Reo-Coker effectively put England out of sight just before the hour after a Leighton Baines cross from the left ping-ponged around the area before Reo-Coker's shot deflected off Michal Jonas for the second.

With shots now raining in from all angles, Wayne Routledge outfoxed the luckless Pekarik to centre for Steven Taylor to stab home the third 12 minutes from time.

Tom Huddlestone curled home the fourth with a sweet right-foot shot and Leroy Lita took advantage of an overworked defence to slam home the fifth.

Pearce said: "I was a touch disappointed with the first half but we got into them in the second. We will meet up again on Friday and we will have David Bentley and Scott Carson joining us.

"The lads can be satisfied with their night's work but they are going to have to crank it up a couple of notches next week."