Berti Vogts’ hold on the Scotland manager’s job looks increasingly tenuous after the World Cup qualifier he billed a “must-win fixture” ended in stalemate amid a storm of booing from the Scottish supporters here last night. It is a little bit more demure these days, which is great and a lot more entertaining.”The former England defender, Lee Dixon, echoed Dowie’s comments and said that Beckham’s tactic of being deliberately booked in order to earn a suspension had been going on for years.Dixon said: “A few people might raise an eyebrow as it has never been admitted to before But that sort of thing has been going on for years. The Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie feels David Beckham may have been “a little bit silly” to admit he intentionally got booked against Wales – but declared himself guilty of far “worse things” during his own playing days. Substitutes: Smith (Manchester United) for Defoe, 55; Wright-Phillips (Manchester City) for Jenas, 72; J Cole (Chelsea) for Rooney, 85.Referee: A Hamer (Luxembourg)..

His, and England’s work, had been done after a night that had been a demanding test of their resilience.AZERBAIJAN (3-5-2): Hasanzade (Neftchi Baku); Hajiyev (Turan Tovuz), Sadygov (Neftchi Baku), Amirbekov (Baki); Shukorov (Antalyaspor), Kerimov (Karabag Agdam), E Guliyev (Neftchi Baku), K Guliyev (Karvan Yevlakh), Ponomaryov (no club); Nabiyev (Turan Tovuz), Aliyev (Xazar-Lankaran). Substitutes: G Gurbanov (Neftchi Baku) for Aliyev, 59; I Gurbanov (Fenerbahce) for E Guliyev, 74; Abdullayev (Khazar Lenkoran) for Nabiyev, 80.ENGLAND (4-3-1-2): Robinson (Tottenham); G Neville (Manchester United), Ferdinand (Manchester United), Campbell (Arsenal), A Cole (Arsenal); Jenas (Newcastle), Butt (Newcastle), Lampard (Chelsea); Rooney (Manchester United); Owen (Real Madrid), Defoe (Tottenham). With the ball spinning free just five yards out, the Tottenham goalkeeper hurled himself at the feet of Aliyev as he shaped to shoot and managed to block his effort.In Beckham’s absence it generally fell to Rooney to take England’s free-kicks, but the young striker fooled everyone three minutes later when he shaped to shoot from 25 yards. Rooney stepped aside and Lampard stepped up to strike a thunderous shot which Hasanzade managed to push over the bar. Cole, who was later booked for dissent, went even closer when his cross from the left deceived the goalkeeper and struck the crossbar.Azerbaijan, however, roared on by a passionate crowd, were not finished. Rashad Sadygov drove a fierce shot across the area which Rio Ferdinand did well to block. However, Rooney responded with another free-kick which Hasanzade did well to push around the post Rooney was substituted five minutes from the end.

Jenas was particularly prominent and made several good runs down the right flank, linking well with Gary Neville. As early as the second minute Owen was beaten only by the wind after Jenas had crossed neatly from near the byline. Lampard was also a constant threat as he joined the England attack and the only minus point for Eriksson’s men in the first half was a booking for Rooney after a scything foul on Ponomaryov.Azerbaijan were restricted to breakaways in the first half but twice came close to scoring. Samir Aliyev shot wide after capitalising on some confusion in the England defence under a swirling ball, while Emin Guliyev had Paul Robinson scampering across his goal with a powerful strike from 25 yards.Azerbaijan might have been level eight minutes into the second half but for Robinson’s bravery.

Owen, expertly judging the flight of the ball in the gusting wind, headed across the diving Jahangir Hasanzade, who got a touch but was unable to prevent the former Liverpool striker scoring his 28th goal for his country.It was just reward for a first half dominated by England. When England took the lead here after 22 minutes, there was no doubting that it was Owen’s name that would go on the scoresheet as he put the finishing touch to an excellent move that defied the conditions.Jenas switched the play across the pitch from the right flank and Lampard and Wayne Rooney added touches before Ashley Cole crossed from the left. When the referee arrived two hours before kick-off to decide whether the game should go ahead, his concerns were not so much the slippery pitch as the gale swirling around the stadium.His verdict to play was the right one, although the conditions were testing in the extreme. England knew they had to keep the ball on the ground and to have no hesitation when it came to clearing the ball long and hard whenever Azerbaijan attacked. Sven Goran Eriksson may have been tempted to change his line-up, stacking the team with midfielders, but chose instead to play the same 4-3-1-2 formation which had been such a success against Wales on Saturday.