It took just 12 minutes for Declan Rice to open the scoring for England and spoil what had been a wonderfully noisy party in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin following a bright start from the Republic of Ireland. England ultimately controlled the UEFA Nations League encounter and Jack Grealish was able to add a second goal in the first half to hand interim manager Lee Carsley his first victory.
England made a winning start to Lee Carsley’s reign after a routine 2-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland in their Nations League opener.
First-half goals from Declan Rice and Jack Grealish gave the Three Lions maximum points in the League B Group 2 encounter.
The Irish were also beginning life under a new boss in Heimir Hallgrimsson and they had the first opportunity at the Aviva Stadium, with Jayson Molumby sending a free header over from close range.
Harry Kane also headed over at the other end before England broke through in the 12th minute. The visitors maintained the pressure after Caoimhin Kelleher denied Anthony Gordon and the ball broke kindly for Rice, who fired a superb first-time shot into the roof of the net.
Kane went close again before the Three Lions doubled their lead on 26 minutes following a wonderful one-touch move that culminated in Rice pulling the ball back for Grealish, who neatly steered past a flat-footed Kelleher.
Sammie Szmodics flashed a shot wide of Jordan Pickford’s left post just before the hour mark, but it was England who went closer to increasing their advantage during a more low-key second half.
The Irish had Kelleher to thank for keeping out Jarrod Bowen and Bukayo Saka to prevent Carsley’s side from adding further gloss to a comfortable win.
