By admin 
(Source: Reuters)
England secured promotion back to the top tier of the Nations League with a 5-0 win over 10-man Ireland in interim manager Lee Carsley’s final match in charge at Wembley on Sunday.
After a turgid first half, Harry Kane’s penalty, Anthony Gordon’s volley and Conor Gallagher’s tap-in in the space of five minutes early in the second broke Ireland’s resolve.
Jarrod Bowen made it 4-0 with a sharp shot from the edge of the box, his first touch after coming off the bench, before debutant Taylor Harwood-Bellis headed England’s fifth.
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Ireland played almost the entire second half with 10 men after Liam Scales was sent off for a foul on Jude Bellingham, which resulted in an England penalty.
England finished top of Group B2 with 15 points from six matches, the same as Greece but with a greater goal difference in the two matches between the two countries.
Carsley will now hand the reins to Thomas Tuchel after winning five of his six games in charge and has some useful tips for the German who takes charge in January.
“It was a great night for many players and the most important thing was achieving promotion,” said Carsley.
“I enjoyed watching the boys play with the aggression and intention they played with.”
While it was no surprise to see captain Kane on the scoresheet for his 69th goal for England, the four other goalscorers all scored their first senior international goal – the first time this has happened for England since 1930.
With a long list of regular starters unavailable, Carsley also handed a first cap to Newcastle United full-back Tino Livramento and a first start to his club teammate Lewis Hall, while Southampton’s Harwood-Bellis celebrated his first senior cap with a goal.
“A very important victory for us. It was a very good camp and two tough matches,” said Kane. “We got the job done in Greece and again here. It was a tough first half, but we came out with more energy and finished it off.