England thrash Serbia 5-0 to close in on World Cup spot

BELGRADE :England took a huge step towards automatic qualification for the World Cup with captain Harry Kane paving the way for a crushing 5-0 victory away to main Group K rivals Serbia on Tuesday.

Criticised for a laboured home win over Andorra at the weekend, England produced their best display under Thomas Tuchel to take full advantage of a timid Serbia display and maintain their 100 per cent record in the group without conceding a goal.

Kane headed England's opener from Declan Rice's corner in the 33rd minute and minutes later Noni Madueke scored his first senior international goal to double the lead.

Seven minutes after the break it was Ezri Konsa's turn to open his England account and put the visitors in cruise control with a close-range finish.

Serbia's night went from bad to worse when Nikola Milenkovic was sent off in the 73rd minute for a foul on Kane and from Rice's resulting free kick Marc Guehi arrived to make it 4-0.

Substitute Marcus Rashford rounded it off with a late penalty after a foul on Ollie Watkins as England moved to 15 points from five games and a seven-point lead over Albania.

Serbia's first defeat in the group leaves them third on seven points with a game in hand.

The group winners qualify for next year's finals with the runners-up going into the playoffs.