Football: The top guns

by COLIN YOUNG, Daily Mail

Sven Goran Eriksson was a relieved man last night after the Masters of Munich became the Nervous of Newcastle.

But England's hard-earned 2-0 win against Albania with goals from Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler took them to the top of Group Nine and within touching distance of the World Cup Finals.

Eriksson said: 'It is very nice to be top. Now we know it all depends on us and that has not been the case so far. I never thought about getting first place. It was more realistic to think about the play-offs. But now we have a chance to win the group, a very good chance. I am very positive and confident.'

A classic goal from Owen, the hat-trick hero against Germany on Saturday, just before half-time and a late second from Liverpool team-mate Fowler gave England their three precious points.

They now need to beat Greece in their final qualifier at Old Trafford on October 6 to clinch their ticket to next summer's Finals in Japan and South Korea.

England's victory put them level with Germany on 16 points but Eriksson's side hold a vital six-goal advantage.

A jaded and disjointed performance restored a sense of reality and sanity to the England camp - and to their supporters - after the euphoria of their 5-1 romp in Munich.

However, for Eriksson all that mattered were the three points which kept his 100 per cent World Cup record intact and saw England leapfrog the Germans.

Owen's strike in the 44th minute continued his incredible goalscoring record. It was his 14th England goal in 32 games.

The Liverpool marksman now has 11 goals in seven games this season and last night's strike at St James' Park marked his sixth in three appearances at Newcastle.

When substitute Fowler finally settled the nerves of the 51,000 sell-out with his 88th minute finish, it produced the seventh goal from a Liverpool player for England in five days.

The margin of victory should have been more comfortable and Albania did briefly threaten with Edvin Murati forcing a good save from David Seaman.

Owen said: 'The manager said we would have to be patient and they were going to defend. They didn't disappoint.

'They defended in numbers and the chance I took was the hardest one of the night. I've played here a couple of times and got on the scoresheet, so it was nice to do it again.'

Fowler said: 'I always wanted to play and get on, and to play my part was pleasing. It is all down to us now.'