England let a good first half performance slip with little help coming from the bench. A goal from Wayne Rooney was cancelled out by Dejan Damjanovic but who performed and who didn’t?
In what was a magnificent if not volatile atmosphere England came out firing in the first-half against Montenegro.
However the Montenegro coach simply out-performed Roy Hodgson with his decision to bring on Dejan Damjanovic and go 4-3-3.
England did not react and in the end were lucky to come away with a point.
Here are the player ratings from the game in Podgorica…
Joe Hart: 7
Made a good save prior to the messy Montenegro equaliser and apart from one dodgy moment from a Mirko Vucinic strike he looked as composed as ever in the England goal.
Distribution was also good.
Glen Johnson: 7
Gave plenty of assistance to the forward players from the back while his defensive work was also good.
Walked on a tightrope after first-half booking.
Ashley Cole: 5
A below-par performance from the Chelsea man who just seemed to be off the boil. With Leighton Baines banging at the door Cole needs to be cautious.
Joleon Lescott: 6
The Manchester City defender did no wrong in the game despite looking like a man who had not been in the first team picture at club level with his occasional lethargy.
Chris Smalling: 7
Another composed performance from the young centre half.
Steven Gerrard: 6
Looked deadly from set-plays but once again he insists on forcing the Hollywood pass which often left England alienated.
James Milner: 8
MAN OF THE MATCH
Milner was a constant threat down the right-hand side and also worked back defensively. A great performance from the Manchester City player.
Michael Carrick: 6
First half; superb. Second half; ineffective. When his backs-to-the-wall he just does not seem to have a plan B to his controlled possession play.
Tom Cleverley: 6
Similar to Carrick he just switched off in the second half. Not good enough.
Danny Welbeck: 6
Ran the channels well and his pace was a threat … but why does he not take a pop when he gets a chance on goal.
Wayne Rooney: 7
First ten minutes he was simply unplayable. But he offered little more after.
SUBS
Ashley Young: 5
He didn’t have the affect Hodgson would have hoped after coming on in the second half.
What were you player ratings for the game?
image: © p_a_h
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