Gardner in fine form as England stroll to victory

Craig Gardner and Fraizer Campbell both impressed as Stuart Pearce's preparations for the 2009 Under-21 European Championships began with a comfortable friendly international win against Czech Republic. The Tottenham Hotspur striker Campbell, on loan at White Hart Lane from Manchester United, opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a smart finish from a narrow angle while Gardner, the other standout performer for Stuart Pearce's side, capped a composed performance in the centre of midfield with a goal from a free-kick in the 55th minute shortly before Jamie O'Hara missed a penalty.

Pearce handed the Wolverhampton defender Richard Stearman a debut for his side's friendly international, while the Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha was given the captain's armband for the match. Pearce's Czech counterpart, Jakub Dovalil, included the Southampton striker Tomas Pekhart in his starting line-up while the Heerenveen midfielder Michel Svec – the most experienced player in the visitors' team – was named as captain.

Both teams knocked the ball around well in the opening stages but it was not until the 10th minute that the Czech Republic created the first real chance. Jan Moravek latched on to a neat through ball but was unable to get the decisive touch as England goalkeeper Joe Lewis came off his line.

Moments later England took the lead through Campbell with their first real opportunity of the match. Lewis's long goal-kick went over the head of Vaughan and Campbell ghosted round the back of the Czech defence. The visitors failed to deal with the bouncing ball inside the box and Campbell took a touch before he cleverly guided his shot over the Czech goalkeeper Jakub Divis and into the net.

Campbell continued to pose the most dangerous attacking threat and his jinking run in the 19th minute set up Vaughan but the Everton striker snatched at his shot and blazed over the unguarded goal from close range.

Pearce was forced into a change in the 30th minute when Lewis was injured and taken off on a stretcher clutching his leg. The Peterborough goalkeeper was replaced by Frank Fielding, on loan at Northampton from Blackburn, who won his first cap for the Under-21 side.

England doubled their lead 10 minutes after the break when they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area. Gardner drilled a low shot which went under the last man in the Czech wall and past the dive of goalkeeper Divis before finding the bottom corner.

Moments later England were given the chance to increase their advantage when referee Cuneyt Cakir awarded a penalty after Campbell was fouled by Ondrej Kudela as he attempted to win a header. But Divis dived the right way to keep out O'Hara's weak spot-kick.

The Czechs came close to scoring on the counter-attack in the 82nd minute when substitute Marcel Gecov was picked out on the right side of the area but the ball flew over the the top-right corner.

Both sides made several changes in the final few minutes and England debutant Adam Lallana screwed a good chance wide after clever build-up play late in the game.

England U21: Lewis, Cranie, O'Hara, Muamba, Stearman, Onuoha, Lennon, Gardner, Campbell, Vaughan, Kightly. Substitutes: Ebanks-Blake, Fielding, Delph, Bertrand, Naughton, Cork, Johnson, Lallana.

Czech Rep U21: Divis, Halama, Heidenreich, Mazuch, Svec, Kudela, Horava, Dockal, Micola, Moravek, Pekhart. Substitutes: Lecjaks, Polak, Gecov, Blazek, Vaclik, Reznicek, Zeman.

Referee: C Cakir (Turkey)