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Pearce warns against complacency after first-leg win

11/10/2008

England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce has warned his players to take nothing for granted after they secured a narrow lead in the first leg of their European Championship play-off.

The young Lions recorded a 3-2 win over Wales at Ninian Park last night (October 10th) thanks to goals from David Wheater, Adam Johnson and Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Pearce was satisfied with the result but was keen to stress that the tie is not over ahead of the return leg at Villa Park after seeing Wales produce an impressive performance.

He said: "I think the result is everything when you get to where we are at the moment, in a two-legged tie.

"But I think you'll find some of the words used in the dressing room by myself will leave them in no doubt that we've got hard work to do.

"We've had a big, big wake-up call tonight and a very tough test."

England started sluggishly and fell behind on 13 minutes when Simon Church fired home after a defensive mix-up involving Steven Taylor and Michael Mancienne.

However, they responded well and soon turned the tables with Wheater's header from a corner and Johnson's fine right-rooted strike, only to see Church strike again on the stroke of half-time.

Agbonlahor's back-heel on the hour proved to be the winning goal but Pearce admitted he was concerned with his side's slow start and their inability to push on after taking the lead.

He said: "Sometimes when people tell you all the time its going to be a comfortable game... maybe that was partly to do with it but personally, I think we defended too deep and the Welsh are a good side and exploited that.

"I think once we got on top and got our noses in front with a couple of goals we should have gone on and maybe nailed them a bit more."

Wales were without a number of players who had been called up to John Toshack's senior squad, such as Gareth Bale, Ched Evans, Wayne Hennessey and Sam Vokes.

But Pearce explained that he was hugely impressed with the performance of Brian Flynn's side and that those players were not necessarily missed.

"I'm not so sure they would have played any better than this team. They're some fantastic players he's called up into the seniors but Welsh football and the players that are available to play at this level is as strong as I've ever known it," he said.

"But my players were fantastic, the heart they showed to draw themselves back into the game and I think we're in for another exciting evening on Tuesday at Villa Park."