Milner steps up, but England's youngsters fail to impress

Stephen O'Halloran's own goal and a low strike from distance from James Milner may have virtually ensured the Under 21s passage to the play-offs for the 2009 European Championships but for much of the evening there was little on show for Capello's watching assistant Franco Baldini to suggest that any of England's young guns will be challenging for a place in the senior squad any time soon.

Stuart Pearce spoke pre-match of how he would be handing over a dossier to Capello on those youngsters he felt could make the grade at senior level. That folder is likely to be looking decidedly thin as the Under 21s did little to catch the eye of a packed St Mary's Stadium, at least early on.

The one possible exception may be Tottenham's Aaron Lennon, whose pace could provide a useful option for Capello.

For a player touted as the natural successor to David Beckham on England's right wing, a return to Under 21 level for Lennon no doubt came as an unwelcome surprise.

After all, last night's appearance was only Lennon's third for the Under 21s while he already has nine senior caps, three of which came in the 2006 World Cup.

The 20-year-old winger's form for Spurs has steadily improved this season, especially since the arrival of Juande Ramos, and perhaps the least Lennon could have expected was a place in Capello's first squad.

Like Lennon, Theo Walcott was included in Sven Goran Eriksson's World Cup squad but although he failed to feature at all in Germany, he has since been a regular for the Under 21s.

Last night was his first return to Southampton since leaving for Arsenal two years ago with many, including Arsene Wenger, raising concerns about the speed of the 18-year-old's development since moving from the south coast.

Pearce chose to employ Walcott as a lone striker, allowing him the chance to shine in his favoured central striking role. But in the swirling wind and on a rain-soaked pitch, Walcott struggled to make any inroads early on. He was not alone, as neither side gave the capacity crowd much to get excited about.

Lennon's pace did at least become more of a threat as the break approached, but too often his crosses were wayward or there was no one to support Walcott.

Milner finally managed to force a save from Charlton's Darren Randolph just after the half hour mark, but although the rebound fell to Walcott he could only blast his effort over the bar. Ireland's best chance came via Owen Garvan after a surging run and shot which needed a block from Steven Taylor.

Lennon and Walcott then chanced their arm from distance but could only fire wide, while another Milner effort produced a comfortable save from Randolph.

Five minutes after the restart Lennon found himself in space on the edge of the six-yard box, but instead of opting to shoot the Spurs winger tried to cut the ball back and the danger was cleared.

England then went close through David Wheater, the Middlesbrough defender volleying just wide fromTomHuddlestone's free-kick.

But England's best period of pressure finally paid off when Milner's cross-cum-shot was turned past Randolph by O'Halloran on the hour mark.

Milner then made the result comfortable eight minutes later, the Newcastle winger's 25-yard drive cannoning in off the post.

Walcott rounded matters off in the 78th minute in front of his former fans, latching on to Mark Noble's ball before curling home a shot which Randolph's fingertips failed to keep out.