Good evening! England will be looking for a second straight win in the 2017 European Under-21 Championship qualifiers when they host
Kazakhstan Under-21s in Coventry this evening. The team news is already out, so lets take a look at the lineups.
ENGLAND STARTING XI: Pickford, Gomez, Targett, Chambers, Dier, Baker, Ibe, Ward-Prowse, Loftus-Cheek, Redmond, Akpom
KAZAKHSTAN STARTING XI: Pavlov, Aslan, Rudoselskiy, Sartakov, Adulkhanov, Tuliyev, Shaikhov, Zhalmukan, Suley, Tunggyshbayev, Aimbetov
ENGLAND SUBSTITUTES: Walton, Iorfa, Chalobah, Forster-Caskey, Watmore, Wilson, Woodrow
KAZAKHSTAN SUBSTITUTES: Golubnichi, Agaisin, Vomenko, Nurmugamet, Baltabayev, Taubay
Lewis Baker and
Chuba Akpom both make their debuts for the Under-21 side this evening. Baker comes in for Dele Alli, who has been with the senior side during this international break, while Akpom is preferred to Cauley Woodrow up front. Otherwise, the side is unchanged from the 1-0 win over Norway last week.
There is just one change for Kazakhstan, despite the side having been action just a few days ago against Norway. Oibek Baltabayev misses out after managing just 45 minutes in Drammen, with Temirlan Adilkhanov taking his place in midfield.
James Ward-Prowse, who is the newly-appointed captain for this qualifying campaign, scored the only goal from the penalty spot in last month's 1-0 win over Norway.
Gareth Southgate had insisted that the Southampton midfielder will get a chance for the seniors at some point: "I feel James has still got a lot of potential to come as he matures physically and tactically. He is still very young and because of his mentality he's got a really bright future. Roy's view is that Dele [Alli] is a different profile player to James. But James is still somebody that I know Roy likes a lot. The seniors is a realistic long-term goal for a lot of our lads. How long that takes is a case-by-case basis, but for James that can still be a realistic mid-term target for him."
Here's the England squad arriving at the Ricoh Arena just a short while ago:
While England will probably be expecting a comfortable qualifying campaign, having won nine of their 10 fixtures in the qualifiers for the 2015 tournament, Kazakhstan have never reached the finals, missing out in each of their seven previous campaigns.
This is the first time that the Under-21 sides from these two countries have met, but the seniors came up against in other in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. On that occasion, England secured two comfortable wins over their opponents.
This is the third time that the Young Lions have played at the Ricoh Arena. It's been a lucky stadium for the hosts, who beat Germany 1-0 in 2006, before thrashing Macedonia 6-3 when they last played in Coventry in 2009.
The players make their way out of the tunnel ready for kickoff. It's far from full, with plenty of sky blue seats still showing, but the teams receive a warm welcome regardless ahead of the national anthems.
The anthems have been played, the teams have shaken hands and posed for their team photos, so kickoff should be just a few moments away now.
KICKOFF! England get the match underway.
England make an early run into the Kazakhstan box, with
Nathan Redmond crossing the ball in low from the right flank, but Loftus-Cheek couldn't get the shot away. The hosts get a corner moments later though as Sartakov tries to head the ball back to the keeper, but gets it all wrong, putting it behind. Akpom tries to head in from
James Ward-Prowse's delivery, but Pavlov is able to punch is clear.
Joe Gomez, who is the youngest player in the England team, makes a brilliant run forward down the right, before squaring it to Liverpool teammate Jordon Ibe. The midfielder's finish from outside the box ends up going just wide of the post though. England are certainly showing plenty of intent in the opening stages of this match.
Loftus-Cheek charges into the box again, where he's quickly closed down by Sartakov, who turns the ball behind for another corner, but once again the visitors quickly clear the danger. England soon win the ball back in midfield though and are continuing to dominate the possession.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been really keen to get forward in the first 10 minutes of this match, and he's in the box again, connecting with a cross from Redmond before trying to power the ball into the bottom left corner, but there's a block from Aslan.
CHANCE! James Ward-Prowse gets the ball in space around 20 yards out, which is a distance he's usually clinical from, but he scuffs his finish, sending it just high of the crossbar. It feels like an England goal is coming though.
OFF THE POST! Chuba Akpom almost has a goal on his England Under-21 debut as Loftus-Cheek plays a lovely through-ball in for the on-loan Hull City striker, but his shot comes off the inside of the left post and out for a goal kick.
The other player on debut,
Lewis Baker, has also just had a shot, but the Vitesse-Arnhem loanee could only scoop the ball well high from the edge of the box. Kazakhstan have barely had the ball in England's half since kickoff, but their defending pretty well.
CHANCE! Stanislav Pavlov has had to make a save for the first time in the match as Loftus-Cheek keeps hold of the ball just long enough to wrong-foot Aslan before trying to slot the ball into the corner, but the keeper makes a diving save to keep it out.
Kazakhstan have all 11 of their players behind the ball as Eric Dier and Ward-Prowse launch another move forward for the home side, eventually allowing Ibe to slice the ball in for Redmond, but his finish is blocked by Sartakov.
Kazakhstan make a rare run forward, with Tunggyshbayev sprinting down the right before he's tripped by Baker, giving the visitors a free kick in a promising position. Shaikhov launches it deep, looking for one of his teammate lurking on the edge of the box, but it's overhit, going straight through to
Jordan Pickford, who is able to claim it comfortably. That actually might have been the England keeper's first touch this evening.
The crowd have fallen a little flat in the last five minutes or so as England have started to sit a little deeper following a very positive start. The home side really need a goal to get the supporters involved again.
CHANCE! Right on cue, England are on the charge again, with Redmond and Loftus-Cheek linking up yet again, they're proving to be a particularly sharp pairing tonight. Once again it's Loftus-Cheek who has the chance, attempting to head in from the left, but his finish goes wide. That's woken the crowd up though!
Kazakhstan try to catch England out on the counter-attack, leaving Targett to take no chances, turning the ball behind for a corner. Aslan is blocked as he tries to get a header away, but Zhalmukan unleashes a rasping effort from 25 yards out, but it was never going to trouble Pickford.
England soon have a corner of their own down the other end, which the captain curls in for Akpom to head at the near post, but the striker is unable to keep the ball down.
Kazakhstan haven't seen much of the ball at all so far, but they're starting to show signs that they could cause some problems for the Young Lions, as Sartakov gets forward, setting up Shaikhov to hit the ball on the half-volley from the edge of the box, but it goes wide. England need to be careful they don't get caught out by the counter-attacking visitors.
Loftus-Cheek gets yet another chance for England, with Redmond the provider again, but it's easily taken by Pavlov. Ward-Prowse soon wins it back in midfield, with Ibe and Dier both getting involved, before Gomez crosses the ball in, forcing Shaikhov to put it behind for a corner.
England are making a really strong finish to the first half but they're still looking for the breakthrough, with Redmond providing another promising ball into the box, which is cleared as far as Targett, who sees his deflected shot denied by a good save from Pavlov.
HALF TIME: England Under-21s 0-0 Kazakhstan Under 21s
So, at the break there's nothing to separate the two sides, with the sides remaining goalless. England have dominated possession and had the better of the chances, but have lacked the finishing touch, while Kazakhstan have shown promise on the counter-attack.
In the opening 45 minutes, England had two shots on target, while seven failed to test the keeper. Kazakhstan have had just one real chance, which was well wide. According to UEFA's stats, England have had 47 dangerous attacks, compared to just eight for the visitors.
This is one of a number of Under-21 qualifiers taking place this evening. In the early fixtures, the Republic of Ireland were beaten 1-0 by Italy, while reigning champions Sweden are currently trailing Spain. Scotland and Northern Ireland are in action against Iceland and Macedonia respectively, but they're both drawing.
The players are making their way back out ready for the start of the second half.
RESTART! Kazakhstan gets the second half underway.
SUB! The visitors have made one change at half time, with Anuar Agaisin replacing Temirlan Adilkhanov.
Joe Gomez has created some problems with his pace on the wing so far this evening, and the Liverpool man tries to get forward again, looking to run past Shaikhov, but he puts a foot out before he can get his cross away.
England have resumed the second half in the same style they finished the first half, dominating possession but struggling to find their top quality in the box. A through-ball comes in for Redmond on the left, with Loftus-Cheek waiting in the box, but Redmond can't keep it in.
GOAL! England 1-0 Kazakhstan (Ruben Loftus-Cheek)
Baker wins a free kick in a promising position, with Tunggyshbayev clumsily lunging on the midfielder's legs. Ward-Prowse delivers it in towards Dier, who can't get his header away, but Loftus-Cheek followed the ball into the box and is ready to pounce as it comes back out, blasting it into the bottom corner for his first goal at Under-21 level.
England want to add another straight away, with Dier charging through the middle before looking for Targett to his left, but the referee manages to get in the way. Kazakhstan make the most of England's misfortune with a run down the other end, with Aimbetov getting away from Chambers before trying to lob the ball in from the edge of the box, but his finish is just wide.
Kazakhstan have a free kick in a good position after Gomez drags for Tunggyshbayev, but it comes to nothing. Loftus-Cheek is immediately piling forward down the other end, but the ball gets away from the Chelsea youngster.
Redmond wins a free kick on the left flank as England press for a second, but Ward-Prowse's delivery isn't the best, falling short to allow Suley to knock it away. Ward-Prowse follows it in and tries to get it right at the second time as asking, but he sends the ball straight into the side netting.
Ibe tries to set up Lewis Baker down the right, but the ball is turned behind for a corner. Ward-Prowse steps up to take it, but it's another short one from the skipper. He hasn't been his usually effectively self on the set pieces today, except for the excellent delivery which helped set up the goal.
Jordon Ibe is stretching the Kazakhstan defence at the moment as he makes another brilliant run through the middle before playing it on to Loftus-Cheek. The Chelsea man hesitated with his finish though, taking a touch too many to allow the visitors to turn it behind for a corner.
SUB! England make their first change of the match as Sunderland's Duncan Watmore replaces Jordon Ibe. It's the winger's first competitive appearances for the Under-21s.
CHANCE! Jordan Pickford has just had to make his first real save of the match as Zhalmukan suddenly breaks through following a brilliant ball forward from Tuliyev, but the Sunderland keeper makes a decent save to deny Kazakhstan an equaliser.
Kazakhstan are enjoying probably their best spell of the match as Tuliyev sets up Zhalmukan for another shot, which Chambers just manages to deflect behind for a corner. Ward-Prowse is back to help in defence, and makes the clearance as the ball comes back into the box.
GOAL! England 2-0 Kazakhstan (Nathan Redmond)
That should settle a few England nerves! It's a clinical finish from Nathan Redmond to surely put the win beyond doubt. Would you believe, the assist will go to Jordan Pickford, as a mighty clearance from the goalkeeper fell to Redmond on the right flank, and the Norwich man showed impressive footwork to get past two defenders before rifling it into the far corner.
SUB! Kazakhstan are making a second change, with Vladimir Vomenko coming on for his Under-21 debut, replacing Shaikhov.
England clearly want a third, with Chambers and Targett getting forward to help get the ball back into the box. Baker tries to cross the ball in for Watmore, but the outswinging delivery went behind the goalline before dropping for the substitute.
Kazakhstan make a charge back down the other end, with Tuliyev side-footing the ball in for Tunngyshbayev, but he puts a bit too much swerve on his finish, with the ball moving away from the target. Meanwhile, there's an injury concern for England as Joe Gomez has gone down near the left corner flag with an apparent knee injury following a collision with one of the Kazakhstan midfielders. It looks like he wants to carry on though, but Southgate is looking concerned.
SUB! Joe Gomez has now limped straight down the tunnel, with Dominic Iorfa coming on for his competitive debut for the Under-21s. He's made eight appearances for Wolves in the Championship already this season.
OFF THE LINE! Ruben Loftus-Cheek thinks he's got a second as Pavlov comes off the line to punch the ball away from a corner. The clearance drops to the scorer of the opening goal, but he scuffs his finish. It hits the underside of the ball before landing on the line and away from goal. That was so close to being a third for the hosts.
Just moments after it could have been 3-0, Abat Aimbetov has a chance to make it 2-1, and he weaves his way through the middle before unleashing a dipping effort from 25 yards out, but it's a relatively comfortable take for Pickford.
Nathan Redmond makes another blistering run, playing the ball through to Watmore, but the Sunderland man's first touch isn't quite there, and he stumbles in the box trying to control the ball, leaving it to go behind.
SUB! It's a final change for England as Nathaniel Chalobah replaces Ruben Loftus-Cheek for the final five minutes.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Poor Duncan Watmore! Just a couple of minutes after losing control of a brilliant through-ball from Redmond, he manages to put the ball into the box of the net, but the Sunderland youngster's effort won't count, as he was just offside as Akpom delivered the ball into the box.
CHANCE! The determined Watmore skips through again, rounding two defenders before squeezing the shot passed a third, but he could not beat Pavlov at the near post.
There are three minutes of stoppage time to come, and given the way England have been playing in the last five minutes or so, you wouldn't bet against a third goal for the home side in the final moments.
The crowd aren't happy as Chalobah is penalised for a challenge on Tunggyshbayev. It is a late challenge, but the Kazakhstan man was keen to make the most of it.
GOAL! England 3-0 Kazakhstan (Chuba Akpom)
Chuba Akpom, on his England Under-21s debut, has added a third with what will be one of the last touches of the match. Iorfa makes a brilliant run down the right, holding off his pass just long enough to let Akpom make his run into the box. The defender delivers the ball in low, leaving Akpom to smash it first time past the keeper.
FULL TIME: England Under-21s 3-0 Kazakhstan Under-21s
Akpom's goal is indeed the final action of the match, and rounds off what ended up being a relatively comfortable win for
Gareth Southgate's side. Kazakhstan defended stoically in the first half, but the attacking was more clinical after the break from the home side.
The result leaves England second in their qualifying group, just a point behind leaders Switzerland, who have played two matches more. England remain the only side in Group 9 with a 100% record.
So, that's all from this match, but you can find live coverage of a number of Euro 2016 qualifiers due to kickoff in a few moments if you want more
live football coverage this evening. Thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye.