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Frazier Campbell impresses on first start for Under-21s
MUCH of the pre-match focus may have been on Kyle Naughton and Fabian Delph making their international debuts but last night it was another son of Yorkshire who stole the show.
Frazier Campbell, the Huddersfield-born striker who came through the ranks at Manchester United, marked his first Under-21 start with a goal as Stuart Pearce's side claimed a comfortable win.
The 21-year-old took just 10 minutes of a cold Sheffield night to maintain the recent blistering form that has seen his last two appearances in a Tottenham Hotspur shirt yield three goals.
Displaying the pace and predatory instinct that was such a major factor in Hull City ending a 104-year wait for top-flight football last May, Campbell latched on to a defensive mistake by the Czechs to finish coolly from a tight angle and strengthen his case to be included in Pearce's squad for next summer's European Championships in Sweden.
It was not just the goal, either, that set Campbell apart with it being the on-loan Spurs man'se vision and touch which created a wonderful opening for James Vaughan before he was then bundled over for a second-half penalty that was subsequently missed by Jamie O'Hara.
The former Tigers striker, substituted to a warm ovation with 21 minutes remaining, was not the only Yorkshire-born youngster to stake a claim for next summer with Aaron Lennon also impressing along with Naughton, who marked his international bow at Under-21 level with an accomplished effort.
The reading of the Sheffield United full-back's name over the PA system of his home club before kick-off brought the first big cheer of the night from the 18,735 crowd who were on their feet again after 10 minutes when England took the lead through Campbell.
There had initially appeared to be little danger when Peterborough goalkeeper Joe Lewis launched a huge clearance from the edge of his own area towards Jan Halama only for the Czech defender to be deceived by the flight of the ball.
It meant he only got the faintest of touches and the ball ran through into the visitors' area where Campbell, showing the turn of pace that typified his stay with Hull last term, finished superbly from a tight angle.
The goal showed just why Tigers manager Phil Brown was willing to make what proved to be an unsuccessful 7m bid to Manchester United for his services in August.
Campbell was also involved when England next threatened the visitors' goal, the 21-year-old showing great skill and awareness to beat Ondrej Mazuch before creating an opening that Vaughan was unable to convert despite being just eight yards out and having a clear sight of goal.
Just before the break Lennon showed the turn of pace that marked him out as a special talent from an early age at Leeds to ghost past two defenders before crossing for Craig Gardner who shot narrowly wide.
England continued to dominate after the break and it took just 10 minutes for a second goal to materialise, Gardner's arrowed free-kick from the edge of the area being beyond the outstretched hand of Jakub Divis.
Sixty seconds later and it should have been 3-0 with referee Cuneyt Cakir adjudging Jakub Heidenreich to have bundled Campbell over during an aerial duel towards the back of the six-yard area.
O'Hara stepped forward to take the penalty but could only look on in horror as Divis guessed right to beat the ball away.
A melee followed in which replays showed Heidenreich was again guilty of a clumsy challenge on Campbell only for the Turkish official to wave play on and book the on-loan Spurs man.
Pearce brought Naughton on just after the hour mark and the Blades defender responded with the type of assured display that has become his trademark this season, while Leeds midfielder Delph had to be content with a late cameo appearance lasting just four minutes.
England: Lewis (Fielding 31); Cranie (Naughton 61), Stearman, Onuoha, O'Hara (Bertrand 79); Lennon, Gardner (Delph 86), Muamba (Cork 61), Kightly; Campbell (Ebanks-Blake 69), Vaughan (Lallana 86). Unused substitutes: Fielding, Johnson.
Czech Republic: Divis; Kudela (Polak 88), Halama, Mazuch, Heidenreich; Svec (Vaclik 68); Horava, Dockal (Gecov 40), Moravek; Micola (Blazek 65); Pekhart (Reznicek 46). Unused substitutes: Lecjaks.
Referee: C Cakir (Turkey).
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
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Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
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