Pearce pleased but wants more

Stuart Pearce: Pleased with England U21's progress in qualifying

Stuart Pearce was pleased to see his England Under-21s side top their qualifying group but believes there is room for improvement if they are to reach the European Championship.

The Young Lions ensured their place in the play-offs with Thursday's 2-0 victory in Azerbaijan but the group - and in theory a more favourable draw in next month's knock-out double-headers as one of the seeded teams - was up for grabs against Norway at Chesterfield's Proact Stadium on Monday night.

And Pearce's side won it courtesy of Connor Wickham's first goal for the Under-21s two minutes before half-time.

However, the Young Lions made hard work of the victory, with Norway having the better of the second half and counting themselves unlucky not to equalise when Havard Nielsen's effort struck the underside of the crossbar and rebounded to safety.

Pleasing

Following the 1-0 win Pearce said: "If you look at the eight days we've been together as a group, overall it's very pleasing.

"We've had a lot of travelling commitments and managed to pick up a good victory that set us up for this game.

"The performances over two games of Danny Rose, Martin Kelly, both the goalkeepers and Steven Caulker has been pleasing, while Tom Ince has come in and it's his first taste of Under-21 football and we've had four new faces come into the group as well.

"To win seven out of eight games in this group at international football isn't easy.

"We're pleased with that and pleased to have topped the group but we know full well that we're going to have to play better next month if we are going to be successful and get to the finals."

Pearce added: "I think Norway came out of the traps fantastically well, they're a tough side and I think they'll cause anyone a problem in the play-offs.

"It wasn't a convincing performance by us but I felt we improved a bit at the start of the second half."

Wickham took his goal well. The Sunderland striker latched onto a defensive mistake and, bearing down on goal, confidently tucked away his chance from close-range.

Patient

It was the 19-year-old's first goal since October last year.

"I'm pleased for Connor, he has worked very hard this week and been patient for his chance," said Pearce.

"He hasn't played a great deal of football, and it's the same with Martyn Waghorn at this stage if the season and certainly one or two others are in the same boat as well so they will find this quite demanding.

"But it is football at a high standard so it will help them and help their clubs as well."