Eriksson keeps faith in Bent

Last updated : 02 March 2006 By Editor

As England tried forlornly to build menacing attacks, not once did Darren Bent stray outside the width of the penalty area. It was a clear attempt to provide a steady target for his team-mates while letting Wayne Rooney flit around in search of opportunities. When none came, the inactivity seemed to dull the debut boy's senses. But with the Three Lions trying to raise a roar in response to Uruguayan Omar Pouso's freak goal, Bent gradually began to see more of the ball.

But things weren't going as planned and when Peter Crouch was waiting to come on midway through the second half, Bent looked across anxiously to see which number went up. Not his.

Source: Daily Telegraph (Former Arsenal and England striker Alan Smith)