England down Poland 2-1

England got their World Cup qualifying campaign on track with a 2-1 victory over Poland in Chorzow, Poland on Wednesday.

Striker Jermain Defoe celebrated his first England start with a superb first goal for his country after 37 minutes, Maciej Zurawski levelled just after the re-start and an own-goal by defender Arkadiusz Glowacki secured the win.

Already unpopular with the media after Euro 2004, Eriksson came under greater pressure after his team drew 2-2 with Austria in their opening Group Six game on Saturday, squandering a two-goal lead.

They were a lot sharper in the tackle in Chorzow, though, and deserved their victory for stretching a well-disciplined Poland side to breaking point -- thanks largely to an excellent performance from Defoe.

The 21-year-old, who replaced Alan Smith and hit the post in Vienna, was one of two changes from the weekend, with erratic keeper David James, who was to blame for Austria's equaliser, making way for Paul Robinson.

After a slow start on Wednesday, England soon began to find their rhythm against a gritty Poland side who allowed them few scoring chances.

Frank Lampard worked a neat one-two with Defoe and fired in a low shot which Poland's Liverpool keeper Jerzy Dudek had no difficulty gathering, while Defoe blazed wide after a through-ball from Ashley Cole.

ENGLAND PRESSURE

The hosts replied with a shot from Jacek Krzynowek which prompted a second goalline clearance in two games by John Terry while Robinson did well to stop a near-post effort from Grzegorz Rasiak minutes later.

England's pressure finally paid off in the 37th minute when skipper David Beckham, who had just had a free kick cleared, fed the ball through for Defoe, who turned his marker and smacked a shot past Dudek into the far corner.

Poland should have been level at the break, though, after Sebastian Mila miscued a volley from 10 metres out and then had another effort charged down in a packed area.

There was no mistake just three minutes after the re-start, though, with Zurawski's rising shot into the top right hand corner leaving Robinson with no chance.

England shrugged off the setback and were back in front 10 minutes later when Cole slid in a low ball from the left and Glowacki turned it into his own net under pressure from Michael Owen.

England refused to let up and succeeded in pinning the Poles back into their own half until all but the closing minutes, surviving a muted penalty appeal from Poland to secure three much-needed points.