TOM OUR HEAD LAD

Davies saves Young Lions

ENGLAND’S Young Lions had Tom Davies to thank for sparing their blushes as they laboured to a narrow win in Andorra.

Aidy Boothroyd’s Under-21 side strengthened their position at the top of their Euro 2019 qualifying group, stretching their lead to four points.

But even after Everton midfielder Davies broke the deadlock in the second half with a well-taken headed goal, the floodgates never looked like opening.

Wayward

On the eve of the game Boothroyd told his players to cut out the showboating, reminding them they were not the Harlem Globetrotters.

And they took that advice as they produced precious little to dazzle their modest opponents, who brought a new meaning to parking the bus in the opening half.

But England still should have mustered more than wayward free-kick from forward Kieran Dowell, on loan at Nottingham Forest from Everton, and a header from club-mate Joe Worral which was cleared off the line.

Mercifully for Boothroyd, the breakthrough wasn’t long in coming after the restart.

Tottenham full-back Kyle WalkerPeters worked space down the left to deliver a cross which Davies finished off with a glancing header at the back post for his first U-21s goal.

Another Everton player, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, then saw an effort ruled out for offside before his Toffees teammate Ademola Lookman forced a save from goalkeeper Francisco Pires. But there was to be no onslaught. And Andorra – thumped 6-0 by Ukraine in their previous outing – could have even shared the spoils had Chelsea’s Fikayo Tomori not been on hand to hack away substitute Roger Nazzaro’s shot in the final minute.