Saturday June 6, 2009; World Cup Qualifier.

Kazakhstan 0 England 4

Kazakhstan: Mokin, Kirov, Abdulin, Kislitcin, Karpovich, Nusrbayev, Skorykh, Ostapenko (Ibrayev 27), Kukeyev, Averchenko (Erbes 74), Logvinenko.

England: R.Green, G.Johnson (D.Beckham 76), J.Terry, M.Upson, A Cole, T.Walcott (S.Wright-Phillips 45), G.Barry, F.Lampard, S.Gerrard, W.Rooney, E.Heskey (J.Defoe 81).

This was undoubtedly a trip into the unknown and this was emphasised as the game kicked off, at four o'clock our time, under floodlights. The state of the pitch was a concern for England but they almost had more serious things to worry about as Kazakhstan should have scored in the opening seconds.

The home team actually surrendered possession straight from the kick off but Theo Walcott played Glen Johnson into trouble with a thoughtless pass and the full back was immediately robbed by Kukeyev who raced away down the left before placing an inviting low centre in front of Ostapenko who kicked fresh air with glory beckoning.

This was the signal for an uncomfortable opening for England who were unable to put any passes together and were frequently unsettled by the bustling approach of their hosts. Kazakhstan also had genuine class in the form of Kukeyev who continued to petrify Johnson.

England registered goal attempts through Lampard, who was high from distance, and Upson, wide with a header, but were totally unable to put together any fluent moves or even basic passes.

The unthinkable then seemed to have happened when Ostapenko guided a header past the poorly positioned Robert Green following a superbly flighted free kick by Kukeyev but the forward had moved needlessly early and was correctly flagged for offside.

Despite being clearly illegal you could not help thinking that Kazakhstan actually deserved to have the goal stand.

Ostapenko looked basically useless up front but his willingness to charge about had unsettled England on several occasions and it was undoubtedly a blow for his side when he had to leave the pitch after injuring himself in a collision before the half hour mark.

Immediately after his departure England put together their first slick passing move which ended with Heskey drilling in a low effort that Mokin did well to touch onto his near post and the keeper deserved to see the ball bounce out to safety.

John Terry would have been disappointed to head straight at Mokin when unchallenged at a set piece but this did suggest that England might profit from dead ball situations and this proved to be the case five minutes before half time.

Kazakhstan were sleeping as Gerrard accepted a short corner on the left and were just as sloppy in the penalty area where Gareth Barry ghosted in at the far post and headed back across goal to give England a scarcely deserved lead.

England still had time to double their lead and completely settle the issue before the interval. Gerrard's deep cross from the left took a deflection which caught out the advancing Mokin who ended up slapping the ball down into the box and Heskey was on hand to claim a rare international goal.

This had been a generally poor forty five minutes but England were still able to boast a two goal lead and with Kazakhstan noted for tiring in the second half there was little doubt that Capello's men had already done enough to take another step towards next summers' finals.

Half Time: Kazakhstan 0 England 2

Theo Walcott had made little impression on the right hand side and was replaced at the break by Shaun Wright-Phillips with no discernible improvement of quality.

In fact the second half was even less inspiring than the first. England were never in danger against opponents who had already spent themselves but they remained unable to put anything meaningful together in midfield and their play was still extremely disjointed.

Terry saw a fierce drive blocked and Gerrard shot too high after turning smartly on the edge of the box but that was about it until England finally extended their lead on 73 minutes.

Johnson made his one confident and positive contribution with a surging run that carried him to the byeline and although Mokin was able to make a fine save to keep out Rooney's first effort he was powerless to intervene as the striker reacted brilliantly to hook home a scissor kick as the ball rebounded out behind him.

Capello decided that Johnson could now be replaced having done something right at last with Beckham on and Wright-Phillips dropping back into defence.

Moments later England were four up as Heskey was hauled to the ground as he moved onto the rebound after Mokin saved from Ashley Cole and a penalty was immediately awarded. Frank Lampard stepped forward to hammer the ball high into the net and prove that England have no problem with penalties whatsoever unless it's actually a shootout.

The game petered out from this point with the only interest coming in the shape of a one man pitch invasion, a low drive from Kukeyev which flashed just wide and a smart save by Mokin from a Rooney effort.

So England remain on maximum points after six qualifiers but this was not a performance they will remember with any great fondness.

Full Time: Kazakhstan 0 England 4

England: R.Green 4, G.Johnson 4 (D.Beckham 6), J.Terry 7, M.Upson 6, A Cole 7, T.Walcott 4 (S.Wright-Phillips 4), G.Barry 6, F.Lampard 7, S.Gerrard 6, W.Rooney 6, E.Heskey 6.

Star Player: Ashley Cole

Tough to pick a star man after such a turgid display but Cole didn't do much wrong and ended the game attacking with increased confidence. His task was made easier by the fact that Kazakhstan concentrated on attacking Glen Johnson.