Analysis of England 3 Scotland 2

International football's oldest fixture looked a little tired at times with yawning gaps in the Wembley seating last night.

And a subdued build-up around the stadium seemed to confirm some of the vigour has drained from the ancient rivalry.

But the manner of England's victory and the story of the night provided by Rickie Lambert's 70th-minute match winner contrived to put a meaningful stamp on proceedings for boss Roy Hodgson.

When the anguish of the result has faded, his opposite number Gordon Strachan won't be too unhappy either with what his team delivered.

The timing of the fixture gave Scotland a prime opportunity to indulge in their nation's favourite sporting pastime and beat the 'auld enemy' in the grandeur of their famous stadium.

With England's players yet to start the season and some way distant from peak performance level, Scotland were at least a match for an hour.

They twice took the lead and faded only in the final 20 minutes when Hodgson's substitutions injected fresh impetus.

Before that, England looked exactly as you might have expected – a team of players working their way back after a three-month break from competitive football.

Tackles were mis-timed or missed altogether, passes went astray, touches were too heavy or too light – the rhythm of their autumn game lay somewhere in the future.

Under those circumstances, Hodgson will be delighted with both the outcome and the work-out.

When next he gathers together these players, Moldova at Wembley and then Ukraine in Kiev are the far more important considerations.

For once, the English have cause to be thankful to their neighbours because this challenge can only have done Hodgson's preparations a power of good.

It was a Scotland display stamped, as ever, in Tartan but containing more than a hint of Black Country flavours.

West Brom's James Morrison stoked the fires with a goal that would not have surprised his Hawthorns admirers but seemed to catch the sluggish home team unawares.

A training ground manoeuvre from Scotland's first corner, in the 11th minute, caused sufficient confusion in England's thinking for Morrison to gather Danny Welbeck's clearing header.

Morrison then steadied himself freely to beat Joe Hart with a clean and powerful drive. The England goalkeeper should have done better but he was not alone in looking well short of his competitive edge.

Wayne Rooney, effectively beginning his pre-season programme, Welbeck, and Steven Gerrard were equally ill-at-ease, so too Leighton Baines.

At the back, both Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka suffered a terribly uncomfortable time against 33-year-old Vancouver resident Kenny Miller.

As the Scots protected their lead, England's difficulty in finding the creativity, movement and cunning to break down deeply-stationed defences once again became a feature of their plodding efforts to claw back the deficit.

It was no surprise that when they did strike it came from a counter-attack inspired by Tom Cleverly's magnificent pass which gave Theo Walcott the opportunity to unleash the pace that remains his prime weapon.

The Arsenal forward's end product is clearly improving and although he was a little fortuitous with an over-heavy first touch, a left-foot finish gave England parity just before the half-hour.

At that point, Hodgson might well have taken a draw, such was the laboured nature of his team's football and the confidence within the Scots that they had the measure of their opponents.

But, against these portents, a wonderful second-half unfolded during which England became the dominant force – although not before the goal of the night from the game's Man of the Match, Miller.

Retrieving the ball on the edge of the area with his back to goal, the former Wolves striker reduced Cahill to a stationary passenger.

He feinted one way, turned the other and beat Hart with the sweetest of left-foot drives.

This was not a game to be confident that in this post Terry-Ferdinand age, England have international class at the centre of defence.

With the briefly impressive Jack Wilshere withdrawn at half-time, England looked vulnerable to a shock defeat.

But Scotland's great error was to allow a swift second equaliser when Welbeck rose to head home a free-kick swerved in with typical purpose by Gerrard.

Hodgson's substitutions then enlivened England still further with none more dramatic than the arrival of Lambert.

He had been waiting 31 years for this chance, taking over from a weary Rooney as the last 20 minutes approached.

Whether or not Hodgson saw the Saints forward as a one-off selection to make do will never be known.

That's because Lambert's stunning headed winner from a 70th-minute Baines corner demands he gets another opportunity.

Scotland wilted and England, spurred on by the future in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Wilfried Zaha, might have recalled one of their heavier defeats of the Auld Enemy from the past.

Indeed, Lambert could have had a hat-trick, striking the woodwork and finishing poorly from two more chances.

But a late cameo from Leigh Griffiths, which saw Wolves striker present replace Wolves striker past as Miller retired, provided only a token note to a surprisingly enjoyable fixture.

Wembley and Hampden Park have been packed to the rafters for far poorer fare from England and Scotland – maybe they will be again if there are more like this.

The old lady of the international football schedule still has her charms after all.

By Martin Swain