Rice and Grealish help Carsley to victory

England made a successful start to Lee Carsley’s tenure, comfortably defeating the Republic of Ireland in their opening Nations League match.

First-half goals from Declan Rice and Jack Grealish helped the Three Lions top the table in their League B Group 2 encounter.

The Irish had also just started their new life under new head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson and had the first chance at the Aviva Stadium when Jayson Molumby sent a free kick over the goal from close range.

Harry Kane also headed over at the other end before England broke through in the 12th minute. The visitors kept up the pressure after Caoimhin Kelleher parried Anthony Gordon’s shot and the ball was fortunately passed to Rice, who fired a superb direct shot into the roof of the net.

Kane went close again before the Three Lions doubled their lead in the 26th minute with a wonderful direct shot. Rice played the ball back to Grealish, who skilfully fired the ball past Kelleher and into the net.

Just before the hour mark, Sammie Szmodics fired a shot wide of Jordan Pickford’s left post, but in a quieter second half, England came closer to extending their lead.

The Irish had Kelleher to thank for keeping out Jarrod Bowen and Bukayo Saka, preventing Carsley’s team from adding more gloss to their comfortable victory.