Despite the poor performances in South Africa, and much talk of a shake-up of the England team, Capello named seven survivors from the defeat to Germany in Bloemfontein in his starting line-up.
Glen Johnson, Ashley Cole, James Milner, Gareth Barry, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe all started for England; with Tottenham Hotspur’s Michael Dawson coming in for his first international start alongside Phil Jagielka, Joe Hart making his competitive debut in goal and Theo Walcott returning on the right wing after an impressive start to the season with Arsenal.
Bolton midfielder Martin Petrov, Aston Villa captain Stilian Petrov and former Manchester City striker Valeri Bojinov all started for Bulgaria who lined up without Dimitar Berbatov for the first time in 11 years following his decision to announce his international retirement last month.
England made the perfect start to the match with a goal in their first attack on the Bulgarian goal. Full back Stanislav Manolev gave the ball away to Cole; he left the ball to Rooney who played a chipped pass back into the run of the full back Cole inside the penalty area. The Chelsea man saw his shot saved by Nikolay Mihaylov, but he managed to play the rebound into Defoe who volleyed the ball into the back of the net from five yards.
The home side threatened again in the 18th minute; Johnson played a neat ball forward for Walcott to chase down the right wing. The Arsenal winger beat his marker but his low cross was behind Defoe and the ball was cleared before Rooney could pounce.
Bulgaria’s first opportunity came from an England mistake in the 20th minute. From a short corner routine Chavdar Yankov was able to deliver a dangerous cross from the left wing looking for Martin Petrov at the back post. Glen Johnson was well placed to intercept the cross but as the full back looked to turn the ball behind for a corner the ball struck his standing leg and flew towards the England goal. Luckily for the Liverpool defender Joe Hart was alert to the danger and was able to dive to his right and make the save.
Nine minutes later England had a chance to double their lead through James Milner. Gareth Barry played a precise cross field pass to Cole on the left wing, the full back played the ball onto Milner who raced past Rooney before firing towards goal. The Manchester City midfielder connected well with the 25 yard strike but it was straight at Mihaylov who saved easily.
And just two minutes later Theo Walcott had another opportunity for England, the Arsenal winger took the ball on a mazy run past the Bulgarian defence and into the penalty area but as he looked to chip a cross to Rooney the ball took a deflection and Mihaylov was able to tip the ball over the bar to concede a corner.
With half time approaching Milner had the final chance of the half, the winger received the ball on the left wing before cutting inside Manolev and sending a curling shot towards the top corner. Unfortunately for England the shot took and deflection and the ball sailed harmlessly over the bar.
The first chance of the second half came in the 50th minute and it fell to Wayne Rooney. Defoe played a headed pass into the path of the striker who looked to chip Mihaylov from the edge of the penalty area. The Bulgarian keeper was five yards off his line but managed to scramble back and tip the ball over the bar for a corner.
Bulgaria created an excellent chance three minutes later after a mistimed challenge from Michael Dawson, the defender missed his header on the edge of the penalty area which allowed Ivelin Popov to take the ball into the penalty area but his strike flew wide of the far post.
A minute later England suffered a setback with an injury to Dawson, the Tottenham defender was challenging Popov but as he turned he twisted his knee and fell to the floor in agony with what looked to be a very serious injury. He was stretchered off and replaced by Bolton Wanderers defender Gary Cahill.
With just over an hour played England finally doubled their lead, but they had to survive a big scare before doing so. Yankov took the ball down the left wing before pulling a low cross back into the path of Stanislav Angelov on the edge of the penalty area but his shot was well parried by Hart. England picked up on the loose ball and 14 seconds after Hart’s save Rooney had the ball on the edge of the Bulgarian penalty area. The striker played a neat pass to his left to Defoe who calmly slotted the ball underneath Mihaylov to double his and England’s tally for the night.
Bulgaria caused another scare for England in the 65th minute although they were helped by another defensive mistake. Jagielka failed to clear a long ball properly and the loose ball fell to Angelov but Hart made another important stop, this time with his outstretched right arm. The loose ball fell to Martin Petrov but his long range effort flew over the bar with the aid of a deflection off Glen Johnson.
England continued to look for more goals and in the 76th minute Defoe very nearly grabbed his hat-trick. The striker had a glimpse opted to play a pass inside to Gerrard, his low shot was parried by Mihaylov into the path of Defoe and as the striker seemed certain to pounce on the rebound the goalkeeper pushed the ball clear of the striker.
The home side did get their third goal in the 83rd minute from substitute Adam Johnson. Defoe and Rooney combined on the edge of the penalty area before playing the ball wide to Johnson on the right, the Manchester City winger cut inside his man and fired past Mihaylov for his first international goal.
Three minutes later England extended their lead even further and this time Defoe was able to complete his hat-trick. Rooney brought the ball forward from the halfway line before playing a through ball to defoe who fired past Mihaylov to record the first hattrick for England since Theo Walcott’s against Croatia two years ago.
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