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VIEW MATCH REPORT

Sunday 8 Oct 2006
England 0 Macedonia 0
England produce a poor performance as Macedonia hold them to a draw.

England produced a hugely unconvincing display as they were held to a goalless draw by Macedonia at Old Trafford in their latest Euro 2008 Group E qualifier.

The Three Lions, who started with their usual 4-4-2 formation, despite all the pre-match hype suggesting they may switch, misfired for much of the game - although they cannot complain about only taking a point.

Macedonia played their usual three central defenders and they coped more than adequately with almost everything England had to throw at them, although they had the crossbar to thank late on as Steven Gerrard's drive almost broke the deadlock.

Coach Steve McClaren had been forced into a late change as Rio Ferdinand hurt his back in training with Ledley King coming in - but that played no part in England's below par performance.

The opening 45 minutes were nothing but frustrating from England's point of view as they dominated possession but failed to create any genuine chances - indeed the visitors themselves looked dangerous when they broke.

The first chance of the game fell for Macedonia after 11 minutes when Lazio's Goran Pandev latched onto a ball from Ilco Naumoski - he drove inside King and Gary Neville before firing into the side netting.

England maintained possession with their midfield quartet of Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick, Steve Gerrard and Stewart Downing seeing plenty of the ball - but they could produce nothing of worth in the last third of the pitch.

Robert Petrov again showed more of Macedonia's danger as he fired over the top from the edge of the box on 37 minutes.

The first England opportunity arrived just before the interval for Lampard. He was found by a Downing pass and flicked the ball into his own path as he drove into the box - with Peter Crouch looking for the pass, he went himself, but Jane Nikoloski was equal to it as he saved at the Chelsea's man feet.

Early in the second half and again it was Downing and Lampard that combined to create a good chance. Gerrard won a free kick on the right and the Middlesbrough winger whipped in the ball for Lampard and his header had to be pushed wide by Nikoloski.

Soon after England received a big blow as Gerrard picked up a yellow card for a clumsy lunge on Pandev, which means he will be suspended for Wednesday's clash with Croatia.

Macedonia, though, were looking increasingly dangerous, and Aleksander Mitrevski was unlucky to see his header fly just over the bar.

Half time substitute Aco Stojkov then tested King as he outpaced the Tottenham defender, but he had been pushed out wide and Paul Robinson was on hand to block from inside the six yard box.

England retaliated by creating their best chance. It was Downing's excellent cross to the back post that found Crouch, Nikoloski did well to parry - but Gary Neville spurned the rebound as he blasted over from six yards when he should have hit the target.

The previously anonymous Wayne Rooney almost broke the deadlock as he was fed into the box by Crouch, but his instinctive left footed strike was well saved by the advancing Nikoloski.

With 20 minutes left, Downing gave way for Shaun Wright-Phillips and within seconds he almost broke clear as Crouch looked to feed him and the ball broke for the winger, but his effort did little to worry Nikoloski.

Rooney was next to make way, as Jermain Defoe was introduced, and England began to turn up the pressure - both Crouch and Lampard zipped efforts just wide of the post.

Wright-Phillips was looking lively in midfield and he squared the ball for Gerrard who was unlucky not to open the score as he smashed the ball against the bar from 25 yards.

Crouch had two very good chances late on - but he could not find a way past Nikoloski and Macedonia claimed the point they deserved.

McClaren's side have now created yet more questions than answers ahead of Wednesday's big game in Croatia.