Day helps new order kick off with a win

Moldova Under-21 0 England Under-21 2

England's new order started off on the winning track - but it required an inspired display by goalkeeper Chris Day to spare the potential blushes of Peter Taylor's team. Glenn Hoddle and his senior squad were in the Republican Stadium to watch the juniors try to come to terms with a 3- 5-2 formation which will be the hallmark of the Hoddle era.

After the young Lions suffered some anxious moments, goals either side of the break from Day's Crystal Palace team-mate Bruce Dyer and the Norwich striker Darren Eadie ensured a winning start and gave the Moldovans their first competitive home defeat at this level.

The signs had been good for England at the start, with the new cap Graham Potter, operating as the left-sided wing-back, setting Dyer up for a shot into the side-netting. But after Eadie had fired high in the 13th minute, Day was forced to earn his corn too often for comfort.

Day, a pounds 425,000 signing from Tottenham in the summer, did well to keep out a snap shot from Oleg Belan and then even better to deny Iulian Bursuc after the midfielder had twisted past Aston Villa's Riccardo Scimeca.

The worries were eased six minutes before the break. The Leeds midfielder Lee Bowyer spread the ball out wide to the left and although Eadie appeared to have delayed too long, when he crossed Dyer rose high to head his fourth goal at this level.