England returned to winning ways on Wednesday night as they came from behind to beat Denmark 2-1 in Copenhagen, their first victory since September.
Ashley Young scored a second-half winner for a much-changed England side, following on from Darren Bent's goal after Liverpool defender Daniel Agger had headed Denmark ahead early on.
England manager Fabio Capello gave a first start to Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere while Frank Lampard captained the side for the first time in the absence of the injured Rio Ferdinand and vice-captain Steven Gerrard.
"I am happy for the result and the performance of my players, all of them," Capello said.
"Wilshere played well. We played with confidence. Denmark played well but I think it was an interesting debut for Wilshere. It was a really important game for him and for me."
Ashley Cole won his 87th to become England's most capped full back and Theo Walcott and James Milner played on the wings with Wayne Rooney partnering Bent in attack.
Denmark's side were well known to the England team with five Premier League players - Thomas Sorensen, Christian Poulsen, Agger, Lars Jacobsen and Nicklas Bendtner - all starting and it was Agger who gave the home side the ideal start.
Christian Eriksen, a midfielder rumoured to be attracting the attention of several top English clubs including Liverpool, sent in a cross from the right and Agger got between John Terry and Michael Dawson to flick a superb header into the far corner.
Both sides had missed chances before then and it took England only three minutes to get level. Walcott did superbly on the right and his cross gave Bent the simple task to tap the ball into the net.
Bent went close to putting England ahead but Eriksen almost restored Denmark's lead when he cut inside and unleashed an excellent left-foot strike only to see his effort cannon off the post and away to safety for the visitors.
Capello made a series of changes at the break with Wilshere, Lampard and Rooney replaced by Scott Parker, Gareth Barry and Ashley Young.
The three new faces looked lively and after Bent had seen a point-blank header blocked by Sorensen, England took the lead.
Glen Johnson took advantage of some sloppiness in midfield from the Danes and as he ran at the defence in pace, he slipped the ball to Young and the Villa forward showed a good head to slip the ball in off the near post half an hour from time.
England then controlled the rest of the game without too much alarm, although it took a good clearing header from substitute Gary Cahill in the last minute to stop Denmark having a good chance to equalize.
Young was delighted to make his mark as a second-half substitute. "(My goal) is up there with my best so far and it's always nice to get the winner.
"For it to be my first goal is even better. I thought I did well and hopefully I can establish myself now."
And the 19-year-old Wilshere handled the occasion well on his first start before he was rested at half-time.
"I am delighted to get my first start and it's great to get the win," Wilshere said. "It was a difficult game and I thought we kept the ball quite well. My position was quite similar to where I play for Arsenal.
"It was a good performance, we've seen some new players so we can take some good things from the match," he said.
Ashley Young scored a second-half winner for a much-changed England side, following on from Darren Bent's goal after Liverpool defender Daniel Agger had headed Denmark ahead early on.
England manager Fabio Capello gave a first start to Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere while Frank Lampard captained the side for the first time in the absence of the injured Rio Ferdinand and vice-captain Steven Gerrard.
"I am happy for the result and the performance of my players, all of them," Capello said.
"Wilshere played well. We played with confidence. Denmark played well but I think it was an interesting debut for Wilshere. It was a really important game for him and for me."
Ashley Cole won his 87th to become England's most capped full back and Theo Walcott and James Milner played on the wings with Wayne Rooney partnering Bent in attack.
Denmark's side were well known to the England team with five Premier League players - Thomas Sorensen, Christian Poulsen, Agger, Lars Jacobsen and Nicklas Bendtner - all starting and it was Agger who gave the home side the ideal start.
Christian Eriksen, a midfielder rumoured to be attracting the attention of several top English clubs including Liverpool, sent in a cross from the right and Agger got between John Terry and Michael Dawson to flick a superb header into the far corner.
Both sides had missed chances before then and it took England only three minutes to get level. Walcott did superbly on the right and his cross gave Bent the simple task to tap the ball into the net.
Bent went close to putting England ahead but Eriksen almost restored Denmark's lead when he cut inside and unleashed an excellent left-foot strike only to see his effort cannon off the post and away to safety for the visitors.
Capello made a series of changes at the break with Wilshere, Lampard and Rooney replaced by Scott Parker, Gareth Barry and Ashley Young.
The three new faces looked lively and after Bent had seen a point-blank header blocked by Sorensen, England took the lead.
Glen Johnson took advantage of some sloppiness in midfield from the Danes and as he ran at the defence in pace, he slipped the ball to Young and the Villa forward showed a good head to slip the ball in off the near post half an hour from time.
England then controlled the rest of the game without too much alarm, although it took a good clearing header from substitute Gary Cahill in the last minute to stop Denmark having a good chance to equalize.
Young was delighted to make his mark as a second-half substitute. "(My goal) is up there with my best so far and it's always nice to get the winner.
"For it to be my first goal is even better. I thought I did well and hopefully I can establish myself now."
And the 19-year-old Wilshere handled the occasion well on his first start before he was rested at half-time.
"I am delighted to get my first start and it's great to get the win," Wilshere said. "It was a difficult game and I thought we kept the ball quite well. My position was quite similar to where I play for Arsenal.
"It was a good performance, we've seen some new players so we can take some good things from the match," he said.
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