Football: Fowler's flair play reward

Morale booster for England as Hoddle's striking options are enhanced in a valuable international exercise

England 2

Sheringham 20 pen, Fowler 55

Mexico 0

Attendance: 48,076

Meaningless it may have been, an irritation to the professionals of the Premiership perhaps, but as an exercise in restoring English morale after the defeat by Italy last month, and before more important World Cup matters against Georgia the next, it served its purpose well.

It will also be viewed as valuable if hindsight shows it to have established Robbie Fowler as an international striker. The prolific Liverpool striker claimed his first goal at this level and the relief that one hopes will develop into the confidence he shows for his club. England's ultimately comfortable victory had been made possible by Teddy Sheringham's kick after a dubious penalty award.

Had it not been for the strict, brave decision by the Football Association to punish Middlesbrough so severely last week, England might have been tempted to pull out of the fixture at the 11th hour, so punishing have their injury problems been.

Glenn Hoddle, though, put out a team with interesting potential, notably in Fowler up front. It was good to see Sheringham back to provide the guile to guide the young striker through, and Fowler would have felt comfortable, too, with Steve McManaman in the vicinity.

Another Liverpool player, David James, was given his England debut, but it was a pity Hoddle did not use the friendly to experiment more boldly, perhaps in trying a midfield player, one with long-passing ability, as a sweeper. Jamie Redknapp suggested himself.

In contrast to England, Mexico - ranked 11th in the world, one ahead of England - came to Wembley well-honed by competition and with a togetherness unfamiliar to their hosts, having played two matches already this month in World Cup qualifying. Though their record is patchy, bolstered by victories over such teams as Guatemala, they were clearly useful opponents.

England took a while to adjust to the Mexicans' formation, in which two withdrawn strikers, Benjamin Galindo and Luis Roberto Alves, played just behind the veteran goalscorer Carlos Hermosillo, but gradually Paul Ince and David Batty assumed a control of midfield which drove England forward.

A lead came, however, from an unlikely and underrated source in Robert Lee, pressed into service as a right wing-back. After evading two tackles on the touchline, he curled in a low ball for Sheringham and although his shot was blocked by Pavel Pardo, Ince followed up and was adjudged to have been brought down by the grounded Mexican defender.

You half-expected Fowler to rush over to the referee to protest "no penalty", so casual must any contact have been, but although the Mexicans did, Senor Melo Pereira was adamant. Up stepped Sheringham to steer the kick to Adolfo Rios's left as the goalkeeper dived right.

Now hesitancy was replaced by a modicum of confidence in the England ranks. Even Martin Keown, in his first appearance for almost four years, got forward to flick a header from a free-kick wide, while Lee had Rios diving over-spectacularly to turn aside a powerful 20-yard shot.

It was a blow to England when Sheringham was forced from the field with what looked like a head injury, to be replaced by Ian Wright. The Spurs striker's ability to link midfield and attack was going to be sorely missed, as it had been against Italy last month, as Mexico enjoyed a brief spell of ascendancy just before half-time.

When the ball was worked to Alves just six yards out, the recalled Gareth Southgate had to be at his best to prevent him turning and, moments later, James dropped a cross when hardly under pressure, leaving the excellent Lee to tidy up again. England's rhythm and shape was disturbed and Hoddle must have been grateful for the half-time whistle.

Clearly encouraged, Mexico emerged brightly after the restart and Keown was called upon to thwart the substitute Luis Hernandez with a good tackle before Southgate stopped Alberto Garcia Aspe.

Then England broke out to score a second, and a first international goal for Fowler. His pass found McManaman, who ferried it on, somewhat fortuitously, to Graeme Le Saux. At the far post, Wright met his excellent cross and, after Rios had pushed his header up in the air, Fowler was there to nod the ball home. Hitherto Fowler had looked naive in such company, uncertain in his positioning and touch, being reacquainted with the rigours of the international game after his only previous start against Croatia 13 months ago.

Now it seemed that the professional pride of the previously casual Mexicans was stung. They responded with a fierce drive by another of the substitutes, Marcelino Bernal, which James turned over his crossbar.

Soon after, he almost did even better. Spotting James off his line from David Beckham range, his lob shaved the top of the bar. It was followed by Ramon Ramirez driving a shot across the face of the England goal.

By now, England looked comfortable enough, however, and Hoddle was able to bring on Nicky Butt for a first cap. Wembley was waving its flags. The Mexican wave was one of goodbye, thank you and goodnight.

England (3-5-2): James (Liverpool); Keown (Arsenal), Southgate (Aston Villa), Pearce (Nottingham Forest); Lee (Newcastle), Ince (capt, Inter Milan), Batty (Newcastle), McManaman (Liverpool), Le Saux (Blackburn); Fowler (Liverpool), Sheringham (Tottenham). Substitutes: Wright (Arsenal) for Sheringham 36, Redknapp (Liverpool) for Batty 53, Butt (Man Utd) for McManaman 68, May (Man Utd), Flowers(Blackburn), P. Neville (Man Utd), Collymore (Nottingham Forest).

Mexico (3-4-2-1): Rios (Veracruz); Pardo (Atlas), Suarez (Guadalajara), Davino (UA Guadalajara); Alfaro (Toluca), Coyote (Guadalajara), Garcia Aspe (capt, Necaxa), R Ramirez (Guadalajara); Alves (Atlante), Galindo (Santos Laguna); Hermosillo (Cruz Azul). Substitutes: Pelaez (Necaxa) for Hermosillo h-t, Hernandez (Necaxa) for Alves h-t, N. Ramirez (Santos Languna) for Coyote 66, Bernal (Toluca) for Galindo 56, Pineda (America) for Rios 59, Sanchez (Guadalajara), Del Olmo (Vitesse).

Referee: V Melo Pereira (Portugal).