Montenegro against England

Montenegro firm in defence though.

Milner brought down by Delibasic. Carrick and Young combine well and here come England.

Three minutes stoppage time to be played.

Left-foot volley from Gerrard straight at Bozovic and suddenly England look interested again.

Unbelievable punch from Bozovic - goes about 50 yards and nearly took his own player out after good work from England had seen Gerrard produce a shot.

Young in space down the left but he makes a hash of it, again.

Young brings England forward, but his pass towards Cole is dreadful.

Hart punches clear again and England can temporarily breathe.

Welbeck heads out the corner. Another corner awaits.

Hart tips the ball over the bar - nearly a bizarre goal as Gerrard tackled Vucinic and the ball nearly dropped over his goalkeeper's head.

High over the bar.

Vucinic lines it up. Can the captain deliver?

Carrick may have got a touch on the ball but three England players at once could not dispossess Jovetic.

Carrick fouls Jovetic and it's a dangerous free-kick for Montenegro 25 yards out in a central position.

Gerrard with an optimistic effort from all of 30 yards. It dips and bounces just in front of the goalkeeper, but wide.

He may as well not have. Terrible cross.

Young feeds Welbeck and gets the ball back.

Shambolic stuff in midfield from Cole and Gerrard. The Montenegrin wave comes back towards Hart's goal.

Another free-kick for England, this time on the right touchline. Gerrard to swing it in...

Montenegro stand firm but England looking to press now. They seem to finally be waking up.

Free-kick England, Young to deliver.

A substitution that probably should have been made at least ten minutes earlier.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Young on for Cleverley.

Flares going off and the Montenegro fans are ecstatic. England have been rubbish in the second half, to put it mildly.

<strong>Montenegro 1-1 England. </strong>Substitute Damjanovic has been the difference maker in the second half and he's claimed the equaliser. Hart saved his intial header and England failed to get the ball away, allowing the FC Seoul star to pounce from close range. A real poacher's finish.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Montenegro deservedly equalise.

No, it was Johnson. But there was nothing in it. Corner for Montenegro.

Savic goes down in the box off the ball under the attention of former City team-mate Lescott perhaps?

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Delibasic on for Dzudovic

Montenegro hit the post after the ball pinballs inside the area. Jovetic's header nearly deflected in.

Decent stop from Hart to deny Jovetic's volley. Good height but still needed to be palmed round the post.

Lescott, however, manages to clear his lines. Unconvincing to say the least.

Lescott thinks the ball is going out for a throw. But it's not and Vucinic nearly catches up with the barely jogging Man City defender.

Vucinic strides forward and curls one goalwards. Just wide of Hart's goal. Chances coming thick and fast now.

Milner's cross nearly turned into the Montenegro goal by Dzudovic.

Gave him the kiss of death by praising him two minutes ago!

Who drops it at his feet. It goes under his legs but fortuitously stops dead rather than going over the line. Nearly a humiliating goal to concede.

Vucinic escapes Lescott's clutches and then Smalling's before striking one powerfully at Hart...

Volkov tries to find Bozovic on the overlap but it's beyond his team-mate. Over-hit.

Cleverley with another loose touch in midfield, he's looked off the pace at times in the second half.

Hart punches again, he's been impressive dealing with balls in the air tonight.

Montenegro corner given away cheaply by Johnson.

Bozovic is a match for the effort this time, not quite enough power from Rooney.

Welbeck brought down, Rooney to take the free-kick 20 yards out and central. Similar position to the one he scored against San Marino...

Cleverley missed a challenge in the Montengero half and a wave of red went forward. But with Vucinic screaming for the ball, Jovetic tries an audacious chip of Hart akin to Rooney's first-half effort. Hart catches it though. Vucinic irate.

England free-kick from the right wing is cleared for a corner. Gerrard gets another bite at the cherry.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Volkov with a dreadful challenge on Milner.

A pair of one-twos from Rooney and Gerrard give England some breathing space. But another misplaced pass allows Montenegro to get the ball back.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Krkotic on for Vukcevic

Vucinic with a deflected strike from 25 yards out and Hart does well to get down to the ball and smother.

<em>Stats: Danny Welbeck has scored with all five of his shots on target in international football for England. (@optajoe).</em>

Vucinic with a sidefoot volley over the bar. He was unmarked and he should have scored from eight yards out. Let off for England.

Vucinic picks up a loose ball that looked to be going out for a throw-in on Montenegro's right wing. He was in acres of space but is pull-back was really poor.

England offering very little at present, it's ALL Montenegro. Damjanovic has been a composed addition.

Montenegro straight down the other end and Jovetic scuffs a left-foot volley goalwards.

Gerrard swings in a free-kick but it's a poor delivery.

Hart punches clear.

Vucinic curls it in and Basa's header diverted out for another corner.

Damjanovic and Jovetic with a decent interchange and the latter wins a corner off Cole.

Long throw by Volkov headed away by Milner.

England really untidy so far in the second period and Montenegro smell blood.

<em>Stats: England haven't lost a competitive international that they have been winning at half-time since a 2-1 reverse to Russia in 2007. (@optajoe) </em>

Bozovic comes out to claim.

England finally stringing some passes together and it's a really swift move between Gerrard, Carrick and Rooney. It ends in a corner for the Three Lions.

Best chance so far for Montenegro. England all over the show since half-time.

No it's not! Just the side-netting. Sorry Montenegro fans. Was convinced that was in the back of the net.

Cross into the far post towards Jovetic and it's in!

Quickly taken free-kick saw Vucinic find space on the left side of the area. Milner tackles back well.

Montenegro push up early on an they've a free-kick 30 yards out, left of centre after Johnson - who is on a yellow - brings down Jovetic.

Another shout out for this piece from John Duerden on <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story/_/id/1385285/duerden:-england-test-rouses-dejan-damjanovic" target="_blank">half-time sub Dejan Damjanovic.</a>

And we're off...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Damjanovic on for Novakovic

All set for the second half now, my prediction is England 2-0. Love sticking my neck on the line.

Elsewhere in Group H, Ukraine lead Moldova 2-1 and Poland are 3-0 up at home to San Marino.

Looking at the replays of the Welbeck penalty claim, it looked even more of a nailed-on spot-kick than in real time.

And for all the updates from tonight's other World Cup qualifiers, <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/live/_/id/1388626/matchday-live---march-26" target="_blank">you can join Chris Murphy now.</a>

What have you made of the game? Give me a shout on Twitter - <a href="https://twitter.com/marklomasESPN" target="_blank">@marklomasESPN </a> - to let me know your thoughts.

<strong>HT: Montenegro 0-1 England. </strong> Roy Hodgson's side pretty good value for their lead, a superb start saw Rooney score an early header but Montenegro came back into the game as the half progressed. The home side haven't really troubled Joe Hart, despite looking menacing when they advance at pace. All still to play for.

Half-time whistle sounds.

Lescott does really well to shepherd Vucinic away from the ball and draws a foul from the Montenegrin.

He's back up now though.

The referee stops play as Bozovic is down with what looks like a head injury.

England corner, Gerrard to send it in.

Savic goes in hard on Cleverley and England have a free-kick around 35 yards out. Not malicious challenge, but very physical.

Superb defensive header by Smalling as England have their backs to the wall temporarily.

Not sure about that one at all, yellow card harsh as looked to be contact.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Welbeck

Nope, free-kick to Montenegro and a yellow card to Welbeck.

Welbeck pushed to the ground by Savic, is it a penalty?

A scrappy couple of minutes with the ball stuck around the central third.

Great physical battle between Welbeck and Vucinic - the Man Utd man wins it on this occasion.

<em>Stats: Michael Carrick has averaged 76 passes a game in the Premier League this season, 10 more than any other Englishman. (courtesy of @optajoe). </em>

Vucevic curls one in to the danger zone but Hart does really well to collect and then distributes with a wonderful raking pass to Rooney all of 70 yards.

Corner for Montenegro after Lescott diverts the ball out of play.

Welbeck pulls it back for Rooney but it's a really poor ball after getting in an excellent position again.

Superb long pass picked up by Vukcevic, hugging the left touchline. But he brings it infield and loses possession.

Montenegro just starting to assert themselves on the game, they've dominated the past five minutes.

The Montenegro fans willing their team on - the support has remained vocal throughout the first half, the early Rooney goal failed to quell the supporters' spirits.

Smalling with a long searching ball that can only find touch.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Johnson brings down Jovetic. Surely that side an area to target now for Montenegro.

Milner and Gerrard with successive shots from inside the area but both are deflected away.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2013/0326/waynerooneyscoresvmont20130326_275x155.jpg"><br>Goalkeeper Mladen Bozovic can only watch on as Wayne Rooney's header finds the back of the net

Carrick tackled unfairly by Jovetic in the centre circle.

Milner fires one across the box but it's just beyond Rooney at the back post.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Novakovic carded for bringing down Cole on the halfway line.

Welbeck with a decent bit of skill to make space inside the left side of the box but as Man Utd fans have seen many times this season, a loose touch lets him down after initial good play.

But it's just over his head. Welbeck was unmarked if he could have climbed a bit higher, or been a couple of inches taller.

Cole does really well to deny Jovetic on the edge of the box and England immediately break with Welbeck. He plays in Rooney in space down the left and England's goalscorer then crosses towards his Man Utd team-mate...

You can offer your opinions on the match by tweeting me - <a href="https://twitter.com/marklomasESPN" target="_blank">@marklomasESPN is the place to go.</a>

A very open game so far, England look a little shaky when Montenegro drive at them with pace.

<em>Stats: Prior to today, Montenegro were unbeaten in eight internationals (W6 D2), winning their last four qualifiers without scoring a goal. (courtesy of @optajoe).</em>

Vucinic delivers but it's not troubling the England defence and floats out harmlessly for a goal-kick.

Zverotic bundled over by Cleverley but the referee again tells a Montenegro man to pick himself up. Bozovic collects and crosses left footed. Deflected out for a corner for the hosts.

Loose pass from Milner picked up by Jovetic, but he fights to win the ball back.

Volkov lined up for the long throw and after swapping balls it turned out to be an anti-climax as he took the throw-in from the wrong position so the referee penalised him.

Lescott steers away Vucinic's cross with an awkward mid-air volley.

Milner allowed to move unopposed into the box and he tried a low angled shot from just inside the right edge of the area. It was wide but worth an effort, he scored one from a similar position against Arsenal earlier this season.

Rooney dispossessed by Savic just inside England's half and it allows Jovetic to bring the ball forward and strike a tame effort wide.

Welbeck tries his luck but his shot is deflected.

For all the updates from tonight's other World Cup qualifiers, <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/live/_/id/1388626/matchday-live---march-26" target="_blank">you can join Chris Murphy now.</a>

Vucinic being pushed to the left wing now - he hasn't really touched the ball since that early slalom.

Good work from Elsad Zverotic and Simon Vukcevic, exchanging passes before Volkov pushed by Smalling on the edge of the area. Referee thinks the challenge was fair.

Montenegro's fans unsurprisingly crestfallen - but they were 2-0 down last time they played England here and ended up with a 2-2 draw so all is not lost.

<em>Stats: Rooney is the first England player to score in four successive qualifying matches since David Beckham in April 2003. (courtesy of @optajoe)</em>

Montenegro with a chance to advance after a poor touch from Cleverley but while Simon Vukcevic advances, he can't pick out a team-mates.

And that immediately silences all the pre-match talk of the game being another real test of Rooney's character after the sending off last time out here. Dream start for the Three Lions.

<strong>Montenegro 0-1 England.</strong> Rooney rose highest to steer home Gerrard's pinpoint corner. A deserved lead for England, who have dominated the early exchanges.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Rooney heads it home.

Johnson with a fierce left-foot drive and it hit the bar on the way through. Ref awards a corner.

Corner to England after Rooney found space again high up the field.

Jovetic starting up top on his own.

Just prior to that Rooney chance Vucinic - starting on the left wing - made a really positive run, weaving infield and skinning two England players before being dispossessed.

It hits the post. Would have been a beautiful finish.

Rooney with a delightful lob of the goalkeeper from 25 yards after Bozovic slipped...

England deep in Montenegro territory, but the hosts come away with the ball.

The ref temporarily stops the game to remove a few reams of toilet paper that have been thrown on to the pitch.

England start us off and Michael Carrick immediately sends a long diagonal towards Welbeck - we've seen that plenty of times this season for Manchester United.

And we're off...

Kick-off is upon us.

The teams are out on the pitch, England's players murmur 'God save the Queen' before Montenegro's players and fans belt out their national anthem - "Oj, svijetla majska zoro" (Oh bright dawn of May) if you're asking.

And another here from our Asian expert John Duerden - he sat down with <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story/_/id/1385285/duerden:-england-test-rouses-dejan-damjanovic" target="_blank">FC Seoul's Dejan Damjanovic, who is on the bench for Montenegro tonight. </a>

A good piece on site here from James Horncastle, who warns England that <a href="http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/4464?cc=5739" target="_blank">Montenegro's Mirko Vucinic is a man for the big occasion. </a>

Montenegro also claimed a draw at Wembley as they finished second behind England in the group. But they failed to reach the tournament in Ukraine and Poland after losing to Czech Republic in the play-off.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2011/1009/waynerooneyredcardnew20111007_275x155.jpg"><br> Wayne Rooney's last appearance at the Podgorica Stadium did not go down too well as he was red carded in the 2-2 Euro 2012 qualifying draw.

Tonight marks the tenth anniversary of Wayne Rooney's debut for England - a 3-1 friendly loss to Australia under Sven Goran Eriksson. Francis Jeffers and Paul Konchesky also played that night. Oh, what could have been...

England will be paying special attention to Fiorentina's Stevan Jovetic and Juventus' Mirko Vucinic for sure - the Serie A pair the unquestionable stars of the Montenegro team.

As always folks, I'm really keen to hear your thoughts on the game so give me a shout on Twitter - <a href="https://twitter.com/marklomasESPN" target="_blank">@marklomasESPN </a> - with your two cents.

There's been a little bit of trouble in one end of the stadium, looks like the Montenegro fans are fighting among themselves.

England team news is in and Hodgson makes six changes from the starting XI in <a href="http://espnfc.com/uk/en/report/334688/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739" target="_blank">Friday's 8-0 win in San Marino.</a> Johnson in for Walker, Cole in for Baines, Gerrard in for Oxlade-Chamberlain, Milner in for Young, Carrick in for Lampard and Welbeck in for Defoe.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2013/0325/royhodgsonandwaynerooneyenglandtraining20130325_275x155.jpg"><br> Wayne Rooney returns to the scene of his pre-Euro 2012 crime, where his red card kept him out of the first two games of last summer's European Championship.

The build-up to the game has been dominated by Montenegro coach Branko Brnovic, <a href="http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1387475/branko-brnovic-lashes-out-at-%27long-ball%27-england?cc=5739" target="_blank">who has been doing his best Jose Mourinho impression</a> with some impressive public dressing down of England.

Join Mark Lomas - <a href="https://twitter.com/marklomasESPN" target="_blank">@marklomasESPN </a> - from 1945 GMT for live text commentary of England's crunch World Cup qualifying clash with Montenegro in Podgorica.

He may as well not have. Terrible cross.

Young feeds Welbeck and gets the ball back.

Shambolic stuff in midfield from Cole and Gerrard. The Montenegrin wave comes back towards Hart's goal.

Another free-kick for England, this time on the right touchline. Gerrard to swing it in...

Montenegro stand firm but England looking to press now. They seem to finally be waking up.

Free-kick England, Young to deliver.

A substitution that probably should have been made at least ten minutes earlier.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Young on for Cleverley.

Flares going off and the Montenegro fans are ecstatic. England have been rubbish in the second half, to put it mildly.

<strong>Montenegro 1-1 England. </strong>Substitute Damjanovic has been the difference maker in the second half and he's claimed the equaliser. Hart saved his intial header and England failed to get the ball away, allowing the FC Seoul star to pounce from close range. A real poacher's finish.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Montenegro deservedly equalise.

No, it was Johnson. But there was nothing in it. Corner for Montenegro.

Savic goes down in the box off the ball under the attention of former City team-mate Lescott perhaps?

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Delibasic on for Dzudovic

Montenegro hit the post after the ball pinballs inside the area. Jovetic's header nearly deflected in.

Decent stop from Hart to deny Jovetic's volley. Good height but still needed to be palmed round the post.

Lescott, however, manages to clear his lines. Unconvincing to say the least.

Lescott thinks the ball is going out for a throw. But it's not and Vucinic nearly catches up with the barely jogging Man City defender.

Vucinic strides forward and curls one goalwards. Just wide of Hart's goal. Chances coming thick and fast now.

Milner's cross nearly turned into the Montenegro goal by Dzudovic.

Gave him the kiss of death by praising him two minutes ago!

Who drops it at his feet. It goes under his legs but fortuitously stops dead rather than going over the line. Nearly a humiliating goal to concede.

Vucinic escapes Lescott's clutches and then Smalling's before striking one powerfully at Hart...

Volkov tries to find Bozovic on the overlap but it's beyond his team-mate. Over-hit.

Cleverley with another loose touch in midfield, he's looked off the pace at times in the second half.

Hart punches again, he's been impressive dealing with balls in the air tonight.

Montenegro corner given away cheaply by Johnson.

Bozovic is a match for the effort this time, not quite enough power from Rooney.

Welbeck brought down, Rooney to take the free-kick 20 yards out and central. Similar position to the one he scored against San Marino...

Cleverley missed a challenge in the Montengero half and a wave of red went forward. But with Vucinic screaming for the ball, Jovetic tries an audacious chip of Hart akin to Rooney's first-half effort. Hart catches it though. Vucinic irate.

England free-kick from the right wing is cleared for a corner. Gerrard gets another bite at the cherry.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Volkov with a dreadful challenge on Milner.

A pair of one-twos from Rooney and Gerrard give England some breathing space. But another misplaced pass allows Montenegro to get the ball back.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Krkotic on for Vukcevic

Vucinic with a deflected strike from 25 yards out and Hart does well to get down to the ball and smother.

<em>Stats: Danny Welbeck has scored with all five of his shots on target in international football for England. (@optajoe).</em>

Vucinic with a sidefoot volley over the bar. He was unmarked and he should have scored from eight yards out. Let off for England.

Vucinic picks up a loose ball that looked to be going out for a throw-in on Montenegro's right wing. He was in acres of space but is pull-back was really poor.

England offering very little at present, it's ALL Montenegro. Damjanovic has been a composed addition.

Montenegro straight down the other end and Jovetic scuffs a left-foot volley goalwards.

Gerrard swings in a free-kick but it's a poor delivery.

Hart punches clear.

Vucinic curls it in and Basa's header diverted out for another corner.

Damjanovic and Jovetic with a decent interchange and the latter wins a corner off Cole.

Long throw by Volkov headed away by Milner.

England really untidy so far in the second period and Montenegro smell blood.

<em>Stats: England haven't lost a competitive international that they have been winning at half-time since a 2-1 reverse to Russia in 2007. (@optajoe) </em>

Bozovic comes out to claim.

England finally stringing some passes together and it's a really swift move between Gerrard, Carrick and Rooney. It ends in a corner for the Three Lions.

Best chance so far for Montenegro. England all over the show since half-time.

No it's not! Just the side-netting. Sorry Montenegro fans. Was convinced that was in the back of the net.

Cross into the far post towards Jovetic and it's in!

Quickly taken free-kick saw Vucinic find space on the left side of the area. Milner tackles back well.

Montenegro push up early on an they've a free-kick 30 yards out, left of centre after Johnson - who is on a yellow - brings down Jovetic.

Another shout out for this piece from John Duerden on <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story/_/id/1385285/duerden:-england-test-rouses-dejan-damjanovic" target="_blank">half-time sub Dejan Damjanovic.</a>

And we're off...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Damjanovic on for Novakovic

All set for the second half now, my prediction is England 2-0. Love sticking my neck on the line.

Elsewhere in Group H, Ukraine lead Moldova 2-1 and Poland are 3-0 up at home to San Marino.

Looking at the replays of the Welbeck penalty claim, it looked even more of a nailed-on spot-kick than in real time.

And for all the updates from tonight's other World Cup qualifiers, <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/live/_/id/1388626/matchday-live---march-26" target="_blank">you can join Chris Murphy now.</a>

What have you made of the game? Give me a shout on Twitter - <a href="https://twitter.com/marklomasESPN" target="_blank">@marklomasESPN </a> - to let me know your thoughts.

<strong>HT: Montenegro 0-1 England. </strong> Roy Hodgson's side pretty good value for their lead, a superb start saw Rooney score an early header but Montenegro came back into the game as the half progressed. The home side haven't really troubled Joe Hart, despite looking menacing when they advance at pace. All still to play for.

Half-time whistle sounds.

Lescott does really well to shepherd Vucinic away from the ball and draws a foul from the Montenegrin.

He's back up now though.

The referee stops play as Bozovic is down with what looks like a head injury.

England corner, Gerrard to send it in.

Savic goes in hard on Cleverley and England have a free-kick around 35 yards out. Not malicious challenge, but very physical.

Superb defensive header by Smalling as England have their backs to the wall temporarily.

Not sure about that one at all, yellow card harsh as looked to be contact.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Welbeck

Nope, free-kick to Montenegro and a yellow card to Welbeck.

Welbeck pushed to the ground by Savic, is it a penalty?

A scrappy couple of minutes with the ball stuck around the central third.

Great physical battle between Welbeck and Vucinic - the Man Utd man wins it on this occasion.

<em>Stats: Michael Carrick has averaged 76 passes a game in the Premier League this season, 10 more than any other Englishman. (courtesy of @optajoe). </em>

Vucevic curls one in to the danger zone but Hart does really well to collect and then distributes with a wonderful raking pass to Rooney all of 70 yards.

Corner for Montenegro after Lescott diverts the ball out of play.

Welbeck pulls it back for Rooney but it's a really poor ball after getting in an excellent position again.

Superb long pass picked up by Vukcevic, hugging the left touchline. But he brings it infield and loses possession.

Montenegro just starting to assert themselves on the game, they've dominated the past five minutes.

The Montenegro fans willing their team on - the support has remained vocal throughout the first half, the early Rooney goal failed to quell the supporters' spirits.

Smalling with a long searching ball that can only find touch.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Johnson brings down Jovetic. Surely that side an area to target now for Montenegro.

Milner and Gerrard with successive shots from inside the area but both are deflected away.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2013/0326/waynerooneyscoresvmont20130326_275x155.jpg"><br>Goalkeeper Mladen Bozovic can only watch on as Wayne Rooney's header finds the back of the net

Carrick tackled unfairly by Jovetic in the centre circle.

Milner fires one across the box but it's just beyond Rooney at the back post.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Novakovic carded for bringing down Cole on the halfway line.

Welbeck with a decent bit of skill to make space inside the left side of the box but as Man Utd fans have seen many times this season, a loose touch lets him down after initial good play.

But it's just over his head. Welbeck was unmarked if he could have climbed a bit higher, or been a couple of inches taller.

Cole does really well to deny Jovetic on the edge of the box and England immediately break with Welbeck. He plays in Rooney in space down the left and England's goalscorer then crosses towards his Man Utd team-mate...

You can offer your opinions on the match by tweeting me - <a href="https://twitter.com/marklomasESPN" target="_blank">@marklomasESPN is the place to go.</a>

A very open game so far, England look a little shaky when Montenegro drive at them with pace.

<em>Stats: Prior to today, Montenegro were unbeaten in eight internationals (W6 D2), winning their last four qualifiers without scoring a goal. (courtesy of @optajoe).</em>

Vucinic delivers but it's not troubling the England defence and floats out harmlessly for a goal-kick.

Zverotic bundled over by Cleverley but the referee again tells a Montenegro man to pick himself up. Bozovic collects and crosses left footed. Deflected out for a corner for the hosts.

Loose pass from Milner picked up by Jovetic, but he fights to win the ball back.

Volkov lined up for the long throw and after swapping balls it turned out to be an anti-climax as he took the throw-in from the wrong position so the referee penalised him.

Lescott steers away Vucinic's cross with an awkward mid-air volley.

Milner allowed to move unopposed into the box and he tried a low angled shot from just inside the right edge of the area. It was wide but worth an effort, he scored one from a similar position against Arsenal earlier this season.

Rooney dispossessed by Savic just inside England's half and it allows Jovetic to bring the ball forward and strike a tame effort wide.

Welbeck tries his luck but his shot is deflected.

For all the updates from tonight's other World Cup qualifiers, <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/live/_/id/1388626/matchday-live---march-26" target="_blank">you can join Chris Murphy now.</a>

Vucinic being pushed to the left wing now - he hasn't really touched the ball since that early slalom.

Good work from Elsad Zverotic and Simon Vukcevic, exchanging passes before Volkov pushed by Smalling on the edge of the area. Referee thinks the challenge was fair.

Montenegro's fans unsurprisingly crestfallen - but they were 2-0 down last time they played England here and ended up with a 2-2 draw so all is not lost.

<em>Stats: Rooney is the first England player to score in four successive qualifying matches since David Beckham in April 2003. (courtesy of @optajoe)</em>

Montenegro with a chance to advance after a poor touch from Cleverley but while Simon Vukcevic advances, he can't pick out a team-mates.

And that immediately silences all the pre-match talk of the game being another real test of Rooney's character after the sending off last time out here. Dream start for the Three Lions.

<strong>Montenegro 0-1 England.</strong> Rooney rose highest to steer home Gerrard's pinpoint corner. A deserved lead for England, who have dominated the early exchanges.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Rooney heads it home.

Johnson with a fierce left-foot drive and it hit the bar on the way through. Ref awards a corner.

Corner to England after Rooney found space again high up the field.

Jovetic starting up top on his own.

Just prior to that Rooney chance Vucinic - starting on the left wing - made a really positive run, weaving infield and skinning two England players before being dispossessed.

It hits the post. Would have been a beautiful finish.

Rooney with a delightful lob of the goalkeeper from 25 yards after Bozovic slipped...

England deep in Montenegro territory, but the hosts come away with the ball.

The ref temporarily stops the game to remove a few reams of toilet paper that have been thrown on to the pitch.

England start us off and Michael Carrick immediately sends a long diagonal towards Welbeck - we've seen that plenty of times this season for Manchester United.

And we're off...

Kick-off is upon us.

The teams are out on the pitch, England's players murmur 'God save the Queen' before Montenegro's players and fans belt out their national anthem - "Oj, svijetla majska zoro" (Oh bright dawn of May) if you're asking.

And another here from our Asian expert John Duerden - he sat down with <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story/_/id/1385285/duerden:-england-test-rouses-dejan-damjanovic" target="_blank">FC Seoul's Dejan Damjanovic, who is on the bench for Montenegro tonight. </a>

A good piece on site here from James Horncastle, who warns England that <a href="http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/4464?cc=5739" target="_blank">Montenegro's Mirko Vucinic is a man for the big occasion. </a>

Montenegro also claimed a draw at Wembley as they finished second behind England in the group. But they failed to reach the tournament in Ukraine and Poland after losing to Czech Republic in the play-off.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2011/1009/waynerooneyredcardnew20111007_275x155.jpg"><br> Wayne Rooney's last appearance at the Podgorica Stadium did not go down too well as he was red carded in the 2-2 Euro 2012 qualifying draw.

Tonight marks the tenth anniversary of Wayne Rooney's debut for England - a 3-1 friendly loss to Australia under Sven Goran Eriksson. Francis Jeffers and Paul Konchesky also played that night. Oh, what could have been...

England will be paying special attention to Fiorentina's Stevan Jovetic and Juventus' Mirko Vucinic for sure - the Serie A pair the unquestionable stars of the Montenegro team.

As always folks, I'm really keen to hear your thoughts on the game so give me a shout on Twitter - <a href="https://twitter.com/marklomasESPN" target="_blank">@marklomasESPN </a> - with your two cents.

There's been a little bit of trouble in one end of the stadium, looks like the Montenegro fans are fighting among themselves.

England team news is in and Hodgson makes six changes from the starting XI in <a href="http://espnfc.com/uk/en/report/334688/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739" target="_blank">Friday's 8-0 win in San Marino.</a> Johnson in for Walker, Cole in for Baines, Gerrard in for Oxlade-Chamberlain, Milner in for Young, Carrick in for Lampard and Welbeck in for Defoe.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2013/0325/royhodgsonandwaynerooneyenglandtraining20130325_275x155.jpg"><br> Wayne Rooney returns to the scene of his pre-Euro 2012 crime, where his red card kept him out of the first two games of last summer's European Championship.

The build-up to the game has been dominated by Montenegro coach Branko Brnovic, <a href="http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1387475/branko-brnovic-lashes-out-at-%27long-ball%27-england?cc=5739" target="_blank">who has been doing his best Jose Mourinho impression</a> with some impressive public dressing down of England.

Join Mark Lomas - <a href="https://twitter.com/marklomasESPN" target="_blank">@marklomasESPN </a> - from 1945 GMT for live text commentary of England's crunch World Cup qualifying clash with Montenegro in Podgorica.