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Fuill-time England will no doubt be delighted with the win, and it has to be said that the 2-0 scoreline does not flatter them, as Devlin did well to keep the hosts out on a number of occasions. Northern Ireland will take some positives from the match, as when they did put press the Three Lions they often did well to force an error.

Corner to England as we enter the final minutes of the match. But the hosts take it short in an attempt to maintain possession.

England looking comfortable with their lead, keeping possession well in midfield. With so many debutantes on the pitch, however, they still push for a third. Connor Wickham, who scored the opening goal this evening, has just been announced as Man of the Match.

Change for Northern Ireland, as 16-year-old Liam Donnelly comes on for McKeown.

Debutant number seven for England, as Moore takes the place of Jack Robinson at left-back.

Fantastic play from Powell, as the Manchester United youngster dribbles around three players in midfield before feeding Wickham. The Sunderland striker shoots from a narrow angle, and the opposition defender deflects the shot straight into Glendinning's hands.

England go close, as Hughes strikes a shot from distance which looks to be flying in before Hegarty makes the block.

For Northern Ireland, Hegarty comes on for Thompson, McAlinden for Winchester, and Devlin makes way for Glendinning in goal.

Here are those substitutions. And it's a sixth debut of the night for England, as Chalobah takes the place of Jordan Henderson and Martyn Waghorn replaces Tom Ince.

GOAL FOR ENGLAND! Afobe calmly slots the ball away. Devlin dives the right way, but the ball is just too high for his outstretched hand.

PENALTY TO ENGLAND! Afobe is brought down by Devlin, who has done so well this evening. The Arsenal man will take it himself...

Incredible piece of individual play from Tom Ince, as the winger beats three men with some neat footwork but can't apply the finish. The 20-year-old certainly looks to have a very bright future ahead of him. More changes coming up...

England certainly look the more likely to score here, as Wickham does well to play Ince in behind the visitors' defence but the Blackpool winger is adjudged offside by the linesman.

Better from England, as a persistent Powell keeps the ball despite the attentions of an opposition defender. He threads a ball through to Afobe, but the Arsenal man's cross can only find Devlin.

The game is becoming a little disjointed at present, with both sides adapting to the changes they have made over the past ten minutes.

And McEachran does now make way for Will Hughes, the 17-year-old Derby County midfielder.

McEachran stays down after a tough challenge in midfield. Although the youngster is back on his feet, it looks likely that Pearce won't take any chances.

Three changes for England, as Clyne comes on for Smith, Afobe replaces Townsend and Wisdom makes way for Maguire. Meanwhile, Winchester is replaced by Gorman for Northern Ireland.

CHANCE! Powell does well to race onto a loose ball, before squaring to Ince. The Blackpool man, who is yet to score for the Under-21s, attempts to find the top corner from the edge of the area but it's about a foot over Devlin's crossbar.

McEachran has been fantastic in the England midfield this evening, and the Chelsea man illustrates his creativity again by attempting an early through-ball to Tom Ince, but Thompson covers well.

Devlin does well again, he controls a loose back pass from Winchester before sending it up field, despite being hassled by Connor Wickham.

The home side keep Northern Ireland under pressure with some more neat passing on the edge of the area. McEachran threads a ball through to Wickham, but the Sunderland striker shows too much of it to McEleney who does well to make the challenge.

The hosts break again, this time through Powell who drives straight at the away side's defence. He eventually takes the shot but slices it out of play for a throw-in.

Great play from England, as Henderson,. Powell and Ince link up with some intricate passing in and around the Northern Ireland penalty area. The ball eventually makes its way towards Wickham, but Thompson makes the interception.

And both sides have made changes. Ben Amos makes way for Jason Steele in the England goal, while Hodson has been replaced by C. McLaughlin and McEleney comes on for Flanagan.

England get the second half underway.

Be sure to check out our coverage of the NextGen Series match between Liverpool and Rosenborg this evening. The Reds are currently leading 3-1, a full match report will be available just after the final whistle.

We're hearing news that Connor Wickham, who scored with a header, has had four stitches in his head after his clash with Townsend earlier.

Half-time at Bloomfield Road. Northern Ireland will no doubt be disappointed with themselves, as they had managed to keep the hosts at bay for much of the half. England, however, will feel that they deserve their lead, as Devlin has been tested a number of times.

GOAL! And it's gone to England. Townsend, who swaps wings with Ince at every opportunity, races down the right and is fouled 25-yards-from goal. Henderson chips a fantastic ball in from the resulting free-kick and Wickham meets the ball well to head home. England 1-0 Northern Ireland.

England showing confidence here, as they press for a goal before the break. But it's Northern Ireland who come close, as Hodson lofts a ball into the box which finds Magennis, but the forward can't manage to test Ben Amos, who catches the ball comfortably.

Controversial decision - or lack thereof - from the referee here, as McEachran plays a delightful ball to Ince before the Blackpool winger appears to be dragged to the floor by Flanagan. No penalty.

Chance for England! Ince looks up as though he is about to pass the ball before fooling everybody with a strike towards goal. Devlin does well to again make the save, this time low to his left.

Northern Ireland look a lot more positive as the game develops, closing down the England midfielders before they have time to create anything. If they are to find a way into this game it's crucial that they stifle the hosts' midfield.

Play has stopped temporarily here as Wickham and Townsend clash heads after both challenging for the same ball.

Another great save from Devlin here. Henderson whips a ball into the box and finds Wickham in space. The Sunderland man attempts to divert the ball towards goal but the Northern Ireland keeper gets off his line quickly to make the block.

Chance for England! Henderson asks a lot of Townsend with a pass down the left, but the winger races on to it and beats his man. He has options square, but instead decides to go for goal and Devlin saves smartly to his right.

You have to praise Northern Ireland for their perseverance in attempting to play the ball out of defence as opposed to knocking the ball long, but at present it is causing them a lot more harm than good as they're caught in possession in their own half once again.

The hosts do well to win a corner after Townsend and Robinson combine well on the left. The visitors do well to clear momentarily, but only as far as Townsend who attempts a shot from distance but has it charged down.

The England midfield are starting to control the match, as McEachran feeds a neat pass to Powell. The Manchester United youngster attempts to find Wickham but his pass is misplaced.

The hosts are a whisker away again, as McEachran tries to put Wickham in behind the visitors' backline but overhits the pass. You can feel a goal coming at Bloomfield Road.

CHANCE! England should be ahead here in Blackpool. Thompson is way too casual on the ball and Andros Townsend gets in to dispossess Northern Ireland's left back before feeding Connor Wickham, but the striker can't evade Devlin from six yards out.

Northern Ireland defend the corner well, but then get themselves in all kinds of trouble trying to play out of defence slowly. Fortunately for the away side, the mistake only leads to an England throw-in.

Chance for England! Andros Townsend runs at the visitors' defence before lashing a shot towards goal. The ball dips just before it reaches Devlin, but the keeper does well to parry the ball out for a corner.

First sight of goal for the visitors, as Winchester strikes from the edge of the box. The hosts' defence does well to close the shot down and Ben Amos smothers the ball to prevent the corner.

England are starting to look dangerous, as some neat passing between Henderson and McEachran finds Wickham. The striker makes a yard for himself to get the shot away, but Devlin saves comfortably.

England go close as a Tom Ince corner is met at the near post by Nick Powell and flies towards Devlin's goal. But the keeper does well to make a reflex save.

The away side have a chance to get a ball into the box, as Magennis does well to control the ball on his chest and feed Hodson on the left. But the full-back can't strike the ball cleanly, and it floats harmlessly out for a goal-kick.

England are feeling there way into the match slowly, passing the ball around the back four casually, searching for an opening in the visitors' defence.

Northern Ireland get us underway!

The players are on the pitch and we're moments away from kick-off in Blackpool!

And Northern Ireland: Devlin; Hodson, Thompson, Flanagan, McKeown; Winchester, Clucas, Lund, Carson; Magennis, P. McLaughlin. Subs: Glendinning, Hegarty, Donnelly, C.McLaughlin, McEleney, Morgan, McAlinden, Boyce, Gorman.

Now on to the lineups! Here is your England side this evening: England: Amos; Smith, Wisdom, Lees, Robinson; Townsend, McEachran, Henderson, Powell, Ince; Wickham. Subs:Clyne, Steele, Moore, Maguire, Chalobah, Hughes, Waghorn, Afobe, Johnstone.

A quick stat for you before we get tonight's starting lineups: Northern Ireland have lost their last seven matches, with the side’s last victory coming in August 2011 when they beat Faroe Islands 4-0. Meanwhile, England have kept a clean sheet and gone on to win in each of their last five matches.

Northern Ireland also welcome three new players to the side, with Gillingham’s Tom Flanagan, Fulham defender Liam Donnell, and midfielder David Morgan of Nottingham Forest all making Stephen Robinson’s squad.

It is also worth noting that Danny Rose, Jack Butland, Henri Lansbury, Craig Dawson, Nathan Delfouneso and Marvin Sordell have been omitted from the England squad this time around.

And they are: Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, Leicester defender Liam Moore, Chelsea defender Nathaniel Chalobah, Derby midfielder Will Hughes and Arsenal striker Benik Afobe, who is currently on loan at Bolton.

With Jonjo Shelvey, Wilfried Zaha, Raheem Sterling and Steven Caulker all called into Roy Hodgson’s senior England side, there are five players in Stuart Pearce’s squad who could be in line to play for the Under-21s for the first time.

Good evening, and welcome to Goal.com’s live coverage of this evening’s international Under-21s friendly between England and Northern Ireland. My name is Alfie Meekings and I’ll be taking you through every kick from Bloomfield Road.