Stubborn Wales deny Phil Neville victory in his first home game in charge of England women’s team

England 0-0 Wales: Neither side could find the breakthrough at St Mary’s

Steph Houghton of England applauds the crowd (Getty)

A crowd of over 25,600 witnessed a frustrating night at Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium as England were held to a 0-0 draw by Wales, dropping their first points of World Cup qualification.

Despite plenty of possession and numerous chances, the Lionesses were unable to find the crucial goal that would have taken them above Wales in their group.

It was evident from the early stages that the team ranked more than 30 places below England were keen to keep it tight and compact, as the Lionesses looked to find the killer pass in behind a disciplined Wales rear-guard.

England had managed to break through a few times early on, utilising the ride side in particular through Lucy Bronze and Nikita Parris, but it was the Welsh that were unfortunate not to take the lead.

A throw from the right-hand side from Rhiannon Roberts on eight minutes was headed into the path of Rachel Rowe, and her shot from an angle forced a fine save out of keeper Carly Telford.

The resulting corner saw Telford unable to claim, which resulted in a number of ricochets that eventually fell to winger Natasha Harding. The forward poked a shot towards goal that was deflected off of captain Steph Houghton, before Lucy Bronze stuck a leg out from behind the line to clear. Despite replays showing the ball had crossed the line, no signal was made by the referee or her assistants – a let off for England.

England’s first notable shot came on 24 minutes when Fran Kirby played in Barcelona’s Toni Duggan down the left-hand side. Her right foot effort was deflected by Roberts, which almost wrong-footing keeper Laura O’Sullivan, who did well to save down to her right.

Phil Neville’s side almost took the lead just after half an hour, when midfielder Jordan Nobbs picked up a weak Charlie Estcourt clearance, before firing off a shot that cannoned off the Wales crossbar from fully 25 yards.

The second half started much the same as the first, with England’s forwards playing a number of square passes across the edge of the Wales 18-yard box as they patiently sought a breakthrough.

With only a blocked Fran Kirby effort in the opening ten minutes of the half, Phil Neville rolled the dice and substituted forwards Nikita Parris and Jodie Taylor for Ellen White and Melissa Lawley in the 54th minute.

Lawley was particularly lively playing down England’s left, doing well to create space for herself to fire off a shot on 56 minutes, before almost picking out fellow sub White just four minutes later, who was just beaten to the ball by a Wales clearance.

Nobbs was the next to try her luck from distance after good work from Duggan, but her effort was deflected wide for a corner, as England continued to be frustrated by a well organised Wales, who threw their body in front of everything.

White’s presence and movement up front was definitely a problem for Wales, and it was she that tested O’Sullivan through a well struck effort inside the 18-yard box after good work from Demi Stokes down the left on 71 minutes.

The resulting corner almost saw Wales break in a two on one situation, but midfielder Jess Fishlock over ran the ball as midfielder Keira Walsh tracked back.

Coach Phil Neville stretching out Kayleigh Green’s calf due to cramp saw the England boss receive a telling off from the referee inside the last ten minutes, but there was nothing he could do about his side’s inability to find a winner, despite Fran Kirby almost winning it in injury time with a fierce effort that was well saved by the impressive O’Sullivan.