Carsley relief as new-look England seize control of their destiny

It was the night when Lee Carsley dropped Harry Kane and came up smelling of roses, this a result not only to avenge the shapeless 2-1 Wembley defeat against Greece in October but to put England on the brink of automatic promotion back into the Nations League's A section.

- David Hytner Olympiako Stadio Spyros Louis

It is difficult to remember Kane ever being axed for an England game, let alone a must-win big one - rather than rested or rotated. And it was especially bold from Carsley given he was without a host of big names.

It had to be Kane's replacement, Ollie Watkins, who scored the opening goal in the seventh minute and there were others who seized their opportunity, taking in Noni Madueke on the right wing but peaking, really, with Curtis Jones. On the occasion of his first cap, he strutted his stuff in central midfield and produced the moment of the night, a stunning first-time back-heeled finish from a pass from the substitute, Morgan Gibbs-White, for 3-0.

Jude Bellingham, also impressive, had forced the second after a surging run, yet another surging run, watching his low shot hit the post and go in off the Greece goalkeeper, Odysseas Vlachodimos. It left Carsley to reflect on almost reaching the target set for him by the Football Association during his interim tenure - lifting the team out of the Nations League's second tier. England moved above Greece to the top of the table on head-to-head results. They must now beat Republic of Ireland at Wembley on Sunday to seal the deal.

It was an inexperienced England XI at a boisterous venue, Kane's omission at the outset framing so much. Carsley had gambled in Kane's injury-enforced absence against Greece at Wembley, going all-out attack, 4-2-4 with an array of attacking midfielders. This move was riskier. Kyle Walker had taken over the captain's armband. He was stony-faced when asked about Kane's exclusion beforehand.