Carsley signs off in style with rout against Ireland

INTERIM boss Lee Carsley signed off in style as England capitalised on Liam Scales' sending off in a 5-0 thrashing of the Republic of Ireland that sealed promotion back to the Nations League top tier.

- SIMON PEACH

Former City starlet Taylor Harwood-Bellis, from Stockport, had a first touch to remember, staying up after a set piece and brilliantly guiding home a Bellingham cross from close range, wheeling off in celebration after the 79th-minute goal.

The 17th and final fixture of a year that saw the national team reach another European Championship final marked the end of the Under21s coach's six-game stint as Gareth Southgate's stand-in.

Thomas Tuchel begins his quest to win the 2026 World Cup in the new year and takes over on the back of Nations League elevation after Carsley oversaw a comfortable win against the country he represented as a player.

Heimir Hallgrimsson's Ireland had started well and frustrated England in the first half, only to spiral after Scales received his second yellow card for bringing down Jude Bellingham in the box shortly after half-time.

Captain Harry Kane, back in the starting line-up, struck home the resulting penalty, with Anthony Gordon then lashing in and Conor Gallagher scoring from close range just as Group B2 rivals Greece took the lead in Finland.