Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at Wembley
Anthony Gordon jumps for joy after scoring England's second goal against the Republic Of Ireland at WembleyGetty Images

Anthony Gordon's first England goal helped them to an emphatic victory

England returned to the top tier of the Nations League in emphatic fashion as the Republic of Ireland were thrashed at Wembley in Lee Carsley’s final game as interim manager.

Carsley hands over to Thomas Tuchel, who starts on 1 January, after winning five of his six games, with England turning on the power here following a drab first half to run riot after the break.

Harry Kane broke the deadlock from the spot eight minutes after half-time, the captain's superb pass releasing Jude Bellingham, who was fouled by Liam Scales, earning the defender a second yellow card and a dismissal.

England capitalised on the numerical advantage ruthlessly, Anthony Gordon scoring his first England goal two minutes later, pouncing at the far post after the Republic defence failed to clear debutant Tino Livramento's cross.

As England overpowered the depleted and dispirited visitors, Conor Gallagher and substitute Jarrod Bowen also got on the mark for the first time at senior level.

Gallagher stole in on Marc Guehi's flick from Noni Madueke's corner after 58 minutes while Bowen beat Republic keeper Caoimhin Kelleher with his first touch 15 minutes from time.

The firsts continued as Taylor Harwood-Bellis, the future son-in-law of former Republic of Ireland captain Roy Keane, came on as a second-half substitute for Kyle Walker and marked his debut by flashing a header past Kelleher.

Carsley signs off in style

I never felt like I was drowning or struggling as England interim boss - Carsley

Carsley ended his six-game tenure as England's interim manager in the same way he started it, with a comfortable victory over the nation he represented with distinction as a player.

He has had his share of unflattering scrutiny during his spell in charge, particularly regarding his bizarre team selection for the Wembley defeat by Greece in October, then his mixed messaging around whether he wanted the England post or not. But the final two victories - in Athens on Thursday, then this demolition of the Republic at Wembley - means he can reflect on a job well done.

He continued to back his own decisions and was rewarded here, with four players scoring their first England goals, including two from his substitutes Bowen and Harwood-Bellis, who enjoyed a dream moment when he headed England's fifth.

It made up for a non-event of a first 45 minutes, in which there were no shots on target and both teams were as mediocre as each other.

Kane’s magnificent pass from deep to Bellingham that led to the penalty was the game changer, resulting in a penalty which the captain scored, the Republic also being reduced to 10 men with Scales’ red card.

Carsley will now return to his post as coach of England Under-21s, no doubt with the grateful thanks of the Football Association following the somewhat chaotic background noise in the lead-up to Tuchel's appointment and, more significantly, with the results than mean the new coach is now spared Nations League play-offs in March.

Player of the match

J. Bellingham
7.52
10 J. Bellingham
7.52
17 C. Jones
7.43
20 J. Bowen
7.42
11 A. Gordon
7.34
16 T. Harwood-Bellis
7.13
12 L. Hall
7.11
4 C. Gallagher
7.07
14 T. Livramento
6.98
23 N. Madueke
6.94
6 M. Guéhi
6.90
19 M. Rogers
6.42
1 J. Pickford
6.35
2 K. Walker
6.29
8 A. Gomes
6.20
21 D. Solanke
6.14
9 H. Kane
6.07
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