England U21 1-0 Wales U21

England's Under-21 side are on the verge of qualifying for the Euro 2015 play-offs after Nathan Redmond's goal helped them beat Wales.

The Norwich winger had two good chances before he cut in from the left to find the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Victory keeps England top of their group, and with the top two advancing, they are nine points clear of third-placed Wales with three games left.

Wales' best chance came when Wes Burns fired wide with Jack Butland to beat.

The visitors were also inches from equalising when Tom Lawrence's shot deflected past Butland's post.

Even though those opportunities were isolated, Geraint Williams's stubborn side will hope they can overtake second-placed Moldova to join England in the next stage.

Gareth Southgate's England team could easily have made the scoreline more comfortable had Redmond, West Brom striker Saido Berahino and Crystal Palace winger Thomas Ince been more clinical in front of goal.

But without hitting the heights of a record 9-0 win over San Marino in their last game, England continued their unbeaten qualification campaign and are now six points above their nearest group rivals.

QPR loanee Ravel Morrison was substituted in the second half after an underwhelming performance but England enjoyed better possession throughout the contest at Derby County's iPro Stadium.

While solid, the hosts could not quite open up the Welsh side, who had the best chance before the break when Burns raced clear of John Stones on the counter attack but dragged his shot wide.

That opportunity appeared to focus the England players' minds as they improved but they were missing a spark in the final third until Redmond found the bottom corner after 56 minutes following a jinking run.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

England U21

• 1Butland
• 2Jenkinson
• 5Stones
• 14ChalobahSubstituted forMooreat 74'minutes
• 3Robinson
• 8Ward-Prowse
• 4Carroll
• 7Ince
• 10MorrisonSubstituted forHughesat 71'minutes
• 11Redmond
• 9BerahinoSubstituted forIngsat 67'minutes

Substitutes

• 12Moore
• 13Bond
• 15Hughes
• 16Lingard
• 17Zaha
• 18Ings
• 19Lascelles

Wales U21

• 1Roberts
• 2Freeman
• 5Tancock
• 6Walsh
• 3John
• 11Isgrove
• 4Lucas
• 8PritchardSubstituted forWilliamsat 83'minutes
• 7Lawrence
• 10O'SullivanSubstituted forEvansat 66'minutes
• 9BurnsSubstituted forOglebyat 78'minutes

Substitutes

• 12Dibble
• 13Fox
• 14Evans
• 15Hewitt
• 16Williams
• 17Edwards
• 18Ogleby

Referee:

Nicolas Rainville

Match Stats

Home TeamEngland U21Away TeamWales U21

Possession

Home67%

Away33%

Shots

Home17

Away6

Shots on Target

Home2

Away0

Corners

Home9

Away2

Fouls

Home8

Away5

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, England U21 1, Wales U21 0.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+4'

Second Half ends, England U21 1, Wales U21 0.

Posted at 90'+2'

Will Hughes (England U21) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+2'

Foul by Scott Tancock (Wales U21).

Posted at 90'+1'

Nathan Redmond (England U21) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Kieran Freeman (Wales U21).

Posted at 89'

Corner, England U21. Conceded by Connor Roberts.

Posted at 89'

Attempt saved. Danny Ings (England U21) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Will Hughes.

Posted at 88'

Corner, Wales U21. Conceded by Liam Moore.

Posted at 87'

Carl Jenkinson (England U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 87'

Foul by Tom Lawrence (Wales U21).

Posted at 86'

Corner, Wales U21. Conceded by John Stones.

Posted at 86'

Attempt blocked. Tom Lawrence (Wales U21) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by George Williams.

Substitution

Posted at 83'

Substitution, Wales U21. George Williams replaces Josh Pritchard.

Posted at 80'

Corner, England U21. Conceded by Kieran Freeman.

Posted at 78'

Attempt missed. Jack Robinson (England U21) left footed shot from more than 35 yards is high and wide to the left following a corner.

Substitution

Posted at 78'

Substitution, Wales U21. Robert Ogleby replaces Wes Burns.

Posted at 77'

Corner, England U21. Conceded by Kieran Freeman.

Posted at 77'

Attempt blocked. Tom Carroll (England U21) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Nathan Redmond.

Substitution

Posted at 74'

Substitution, England U21. Liam Moore replaces Nathaniel Chalobah because of an injury.

Posted at 72'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 72'

Delay in match (Wales U21).

Substitution

Posted at 71'

Substitution, England U21. Will Hughes replaces Ravel Morrison.

Posted at 71'

Attempt missed. Thomas Ince (England U21) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Nathan Redmond.

Posted at 69'

Foul by Nathaniel Chalobah (England U21).

Posted at 69'

Lee Evans (Wales U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 68'

Offside, Wales U21. Connor Roberts tries a through ball, but Wes Burns is caught offside.

Substitution

Posted at 67'

Substitution, England U21. Danny Ings replaces Saido Berahino.

Substitution

Posted at 66'

Substitution, Wales U21. Lee Evans replaces Tommy O'Sullivan.

Posted at 66'

Attempt missed. Saido Berahino (England U21) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Thomas Ince with a cross.

Posted at 64'

Foul by James Ward-Prowse (England U21).

Posted at 64'

Tommy O'Sullivan (Wales U21) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 62'

Foul by John Stones (England U21).

Posted at 62'

Wes Burns (Wales U21) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 59'

Foul by Thomas Ince (England U21).

Posted at 59'

Kieran Freeman (Wales U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Goal!

Posted at 56'

Goal! England U21 1, Wales U21 0. Nathan Redmond (England U21) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jack Robinson.

Posted at 56'

Attempt blocked. Tom Lawrence (Wales U21) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 54'

Foul by Nathaniel Chalobah (England U21).

Posted at 54'

Tom Lawrence (Wales U21) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

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