Pole Axed! : Rooney and Gerrard shoot Roy's boys to Brazil

Roy Hodgson will be a relieved man. The last two weeks have been immensely stressful for the England manager and he was mightily relieved as England’s two poster boys - Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard struck past Wojciech Szczesny to put England on the plane to Brazil. Two home games , two wins, qualification. Nice and easy for Roy Hodgson except that it never was that straightforward. Montenegro and Poland were tricky opponents . In the reverse fixture both had held England to draws.

On Tuesday night, Hodgson made two changes to the side that thumped Montenegro on Friday. Kyle Walker was ruled out through suspension and two games in four days seemed a tough ask for Frank Lampard. In came the Manchester United duo of Chris Smalling and Michael Carrick. Young winger Andros Townsend had recovered from a bone bruising to boost Hodgson’s options. The manager went in with a 4-2-3-1. Gerrard and Carrick formed the pivot for a fluid front four in Welbeck, Townsend, Rooney and Sturridge. Chris Smalling often tucked in from right back to form a back three , enabling Leighton Baines to make his characteristic forward forays.

England were positive from the outset. Three golden chances fell to Danny Welbeck and he failed to convert even one of them. For the first time in Hodgson’s reign as England manager, the team showed intent often bursting forward from the flanks, thanks to Townsend in the right or Baines in the left.

Hence it was no surprise that the lead came from a Baines cross, Rooney headed it past Szczesny to calm some nerves. Poland weren’t done yet. They created some chances of their own. Borussia Dortmund’s hitman Robert Lewandowski was kept out by Joe Hart. And as Szczesny saved from Rooney and then Sturridge, anxiety grew around Wembley. One goal either way would swing emotions dramatically.

And thankfully for England and Hodgson, it was Steven Gerrard, who after Wilshere’s introduction (in the place of Sturridge), was freed to make a forward burst from which he toe-poked home. He slid in wild celebration joined by Rooney, Hodgson and the 72,000 England fans at Wembley. (and many more watching at home)

Relief, relief, reach out and touch it.