Beth makes impact in England win
Boss Phil Neville claimed that England Women had to negotiate “three or four buses” in their World Cup qualifier against Bosnia.
England moved to the top of Group A after Toni Duggan’s 56th-minute goal – her 20th international strike – and a late penalty from Jodie Taylor, after a foul on former Sunderland forward Beth Mead, secured a dour 2-0 victory in Zenica.
The Lionesses lost Alex Greenwood shortly after half-time for a second yellow card for simulation, while the hosts had Amira Spahic sent off on the hour.
England had laboured to a 0-0 draw against Wales on Friday, but, despite being
with another ultra-defensive unit they finally found a way through.
Neville said: “We talked about parking the bus – this was parking three or four buses. It was football like I had never seen before.
“It was a patient performance, we had to wait. The first goal was always going to be key and we managed to get the first goal.
“It was comfortable throughout, but as long as it is 0-0 there is always that temptation of thinking back to Friday night when we dominated the game against Wales and we didn’t manage to get the goal. So the girls stuck at it. Toni Duggan scored a brilliant goal – she was fantastic.”
A frustrating first-half left England empty-handed.
The visitors hogged the ball but also failed to make that dominance count, again struggling to create clear-cut scoring chances.
Greenwood’s red card acted as something of a catalyst, however. Just when the visitors started to sweat on the source of that elusive goal, up popped Barcelona striker Duggan, poking out a foot despite tight marking to stab home Melissa Lawley’s cross.
England continued to dominate, and when Mead, a 57th-minute sub, was fouled as Bosnia conceded a late spot-kick, Taylor stepped up and duly fired home her 17th international goal.
Ex-Sunderland players Steph Houghton, Carly Telford, Jordan Nobbs and Lucy Bronze all started for England.