England U21’s came from behind to hammer Serbia Under 21’s at the City Ground on Thursday evening to go top of their European Championship qualifying group.
Doubles from Harvey Elliot, Jaden Philogene and Noni Madueke helped England make it two wins from two in their qualifying campaign.
Lee Carsley’s side dominated the opening exchanges with debutant Jaden Philogene forcing the Serbian ‘keeper in to an acrobatic save after just four minutes.
It was Serbia however who took the lead just before the half hour mark, after some nice play down the left-hand side Vladimir Lucic who finished well past Burnley’s James Trafford.
The Young Lions continued to control proceedings as Liam Delap was put through after some good work from Noni Madueke, but his chance was well saved by Veljko Ilic.
England didn’t have to wait long for their equaliser as Ilic presented Jaden Philogene with the chance to mark his first start with a goal, curling home past the Serbian.
Liam Delap scored his second England Under-21 goal in as many matches to put the Three Lions ahead, before Harvey Elliot doubled the lead with a superb strike from the edge of the area just before half time.
The second half started just as the first ended with Noni Madueke scoring the pick of the bunch as his solo effort was smashed past Ilic in the Trent end goal to put England 4-1 up before the hour mark.
Chelsea’s Cole Palmer had to be taken off after picking up an injury and is set to be a doubt for his club sides clash with Arsenal next weekend.
Madueke and Philogene got their second goals of the game to extend England’s lead to 6-1 on 63 minutes.
After a host of changes for the home side the game looked to be petering out before a freak own goal, a Jon Rowe header and a cool Harvey Elliot finish concluded the route to equal England U21’s biggest ever victory.
Carsley’s men travel to Slovakia on Monday to play Ukraine in their next match.