Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole played a major part in England's demolition of lowly Moldova at Wembley tonight, as the Three Lions hit four with no reply In this vital World Cup Qulaifier.
Opening goals from skipper Steve Gerrard and Rickie Lambert ensured there would be no banana skin result in this World Cup qualifier with a tricky trip to Ukraine to come on Tuesday.
One sour note in an otherwise perfunctory display was first half-booking of Danny Welbeck which means the Manchester United striker will miss the trip to Kiev.
Lambert said of his goal: "I'm glad that I scored and we won,
"It was a shame Danny got the yellow card, but I told him not worry about it.
Welbeck said: "I was disappointed to get a yellow card. I did not hear the ref's whistle, what with the crowd's noise, I just wanted to put the ball in the back off the net.
"But I gave it my best shot and I hope we win in Ukraine."
Steve Gerrard blasted England into the lead on 12 minutes after Frank Lampard set the Liverpool skipper up with a deft pass on the edge of the Moldova penalty area.
Gerrard hit a low, right-footer that zipped across the pitch, and swerved perfectly into the net, giving goalkeeper Stamislav Namasco no chance.
Jack Wilshere almost doubled the lead on 25 minutes after the Arsenal midfielder zig-zagged though the defence but Namasco was equal to the task. however, seconds lasted the same goalkeeper produced a powder-puff punch off Theo Walcott's shot, straight to
Rickie Lambert and the Southamption hot man gleefully headed home, unchallenged from six yards to cord his second England goal in two starts.
Just on the half-time whistle, the Three Lions got a third. Lambert fed a long ball to Welbeck and the Manchester United striker controlled the ball, his inertia took his past Namasco and he tucked up easily from close range.
However Welbeck was booked seconds earlier for what referee Ivan Kruziak must have deemed unsporting behaviour when Welbeck failed to stop for an offside.
England boos Roy Hodgson went berserk on the bench as it meant Welbeck would be suspended for the Ukraine on Tuesday.
Number four soon arrived and and it was that man Welbeck, who calmly chipped the hapless Namasco from eight yards out six minutes after the restart.
Substitute Leighton Baines had a powerful shot punched away by the goalkeeper who continued to blow hot and cold - brilliant one minute, shocking the next.
England made their second substitution on 59 minutes, bringing on Everton youngster Ross Barkley for his first full international cap.
Welbeck almost got his hat-trick on 64 minutes, but he was unable to guide a Gerrard free-kick on target and headed high over the Moldova crossbar.
With an eye on the more crucial World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, Hodgson took off his out and out striker Lambert with 20 minutes left on the clock.
James Milner duly came, taking over the wide berth left vacant by Welbeck who became the central striker.
Barkley showed great enterprise, latching onto a Milner through ball.
The 19-year-old, cut thought the Moldova defence before unleashing a fine daisy-cutter, but the ball inched wide of the visitors' right post.
Frank Lamprd was unlucky with his trademark long-range effort with 11 minutes to go, Namasco decided to stick his foot out and managed to deflect the pile-driver over his own crossbar,
Kyle Walker tried his luck a couple of minutes later but the Spurs right-back saw his effort zip over the crossbar.
Milner missed a sitting deep into added time as England won the three points
Teams: England
Hart, Walker, Cole, Gerrard, Cahill, Jagielka, Walcott, Lampard, Welbeck, Wilshere, Lambert
Subs: Smalling, Ruddy, Baines, Carrick, Cleverley, Milner, Barkley, Defoe, Young, Sterling, Townsend, Forster,
Moldova: Namasco, ArmS, Golovatenco, Epureanu, Ionita, Antoniuc, Dedov, Georghiev, Bulgaru, Bordian, Sidorenco
Subs: Pascenco, Cebanu, Onica, Racu, Cebotaru, Doros, Suvorov, Boestean, Erhan, Pascenco, Grossu, Andronic.
Referee: Ivan Kruzliak Slovakia