England have beaten Wales 1-0 in the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, for a precious three points, and to take the lead in Group 6 in the World Cup European Zone qualifiers.

With the echoes of the derisive whistling from the fans during each teams national anthems still ringing around Cardiffs Millennium Dome, the first International meeting between the two teams for many years kicked off at a frantic pace.

Within 20 seconds of the kick-off Shaun Wright-Phillips had a chance on goal, breaking down the right, and just two minutes later Joe Cole had an easy heading chance which went wide.

England, although they maintained the share of the possession in the opening minutes of the match, their play was bitty, and the passing was lacking. With the new 4-5-1 formation that was being used, it looked as if the players were struggling to get used to it themselves.

The first real shot at goal came from the visitors, with Frank Lampard having a strike from outside the area, which was just wide of goal, and left Welsh keeper Danny Coyne scrambling to cover his post. Seconds later a mistake by Jamie Carragher left Simon Jones the chance for Wales' first shot on goal, and the first shock of the afternoon for the English.

England began to find their passing feet, and with some beautiful passing between Gerrard and Rooney, it was left to the Welsh keeper Coyne, to come up with an impressive double-save, one from Rooney, and the other on the rebound from Wright-Phillips to save the Welsh defences blushes.

The English defence was doing its utmost to make life difficult for themselves. Ryan Giggs and John Hartson making life hard enough for the defence, to allow for mistakes to be made. But the Welsh passing in the crucial areas was abysmal at best, squandering clear cut passing chances in front of the English goal.

Wales came close to scoring themselves in the 32nd minute with Simon Davis screaming a shot wide from a corner kick, and had another chance 3 minutes later, when Ashley Cole was forced into a great defending header denying John Hartson a header from a very dangerous position.

The Dragons began to get a belief in themselves now, with Paul Robinson making a stunning save to yet again deny the predatory Hartson, who had a cracking headed shot that looked almost un-saveable, parried away by the Spurs keeper.

As the game was approaching half time the English had two wonderful chances, Lampard having the ball stolen away from him as he was teeing up, and seconds later Joe Cole freeing himself at the far post, but his diving header went wide.

The Game went into the break, honours even at 0-0, but with England looking the more proficient of the sides, with six attempts on target, to Wales two shots on the mark.

The second half started with the England team showing a bit more thrust in their play, Shaun Wright-Phillips having a chance, and finally for England, in the 53rd minute a ball from the diminutive winger found Joe Cole, who’s shot cruelly deflected off defender Danny Gabbidon's head and past the keeper Coyne. England 1-0.

The pressure continued, and Wayne Rooney was unlucky not to score with a lovely loping chip, that was excellently saved by the fingertips of Coyne.

This seemed to rally the Welsh, and the constant physical threat of John Hartson in the English box, was giving the English defence some difficulties, but the constant use of the long-ball from the Dragons, inevitably went astray.

Both England and Wales brought on new strikers in the last third of the game. Shaun Wright-Phillips making way for Jermaine Defoe, and Robbie Earnshaw coming on for Simon Davis.

Earnshaw and his pace made an immediate difference to the game, with the home side pushing more and more, but still, the constant use of the long ball never really troubled the England defence, except for the few times the West Brom striker got inside the penalty area which gave England some last minute scares.

The England team were at this point holding the ball, looking less to score than to concede a goal, and to hold their lead. Kieran Richardson came on for England in the dying minutes of the game, but this was the period of welsh dominance with Giggs being denied from a close range shot, by the boot of Rio Ferdinand.

The Wales players spent the last ten minutes of the game virtually encamped in the England half of the pitch, who, knowing that a draw would not be good enough for automatic qualification for the finals next summer, seemed to be feeling the pressure, and making frantic, and at times, desperate clearances.

The game finished 1-0, much to the relief of the England players who, although they made a better showing than the recent debacle against the Danes recently, still look a very long way from the World Cup winning team that the English fans so crave, and demand.

The Wales team can be very proud of the performance, with the keeper Coyne a massive influence, and little Robbie Earnshaw, who turned the game around for the Welsh, thinking how he might have managed to sneak what might have been considered a fair draw.