Terry looks forward to Wales clash after seeing off Bulgaria

Goals from Gary Cahill and Wayne Rooney, who netted twice, put England in complete control by half-time and they remained in charge until the final whistle.

Terry said: “It was a really good night.

“We were hoping for a good start and certainly got that.

“They came at us in the first five or 10 minutes and tried to press us.

“We spoke of trying to soak it up and it was always going to be difficult in the first 15 to 20 minutes.

“We soaked it up well and after that we played some really good football.

“Some of the football we played was the best for a long time. We’re very pleased with that.”

With Montenegro losing to Wales, it became a superb night for Fabio Capello and England, and three points against the Welsh at Wembley next Tuesday would put the home side in a commanding position at the top of Group G, with a place in the finals in sight.

England would then lead by six points ahead of their trip to Montenegro in October, and in those circumstances a draw or better on their travels would see Capello’s team qualify.

Terry has always wanted England to build the six-point cushion.

“That’d be ideal. That’s what we’ve played for,” he said.

“We always realised with the way Montenegro played at Wembley it was always going to be tough going there.”

Montenegro managed a draw at Wembley, and England were left deflated, but it was a different story last night.

Cahill admitted his first international goal had capped a “crazy week” after speculation linking him with a move away from Bolton before Wednesday night’s transfer deadline.

“It’s been a crazy week – a difficult week really, mentally,” he said. “But once the window shut I knew obviously I was staying so I’ll get my head down and work hard for Bolton and work hard for my country.”

He would have celebrated the strike more enthusiastically – had he been convinced the goal would stand.

“I heard the whistle and thought I was offside – otherwise I would have been a lot more excited than that but I’m over the moon,” he said. “When I looked over and saw the flag was down, it was just fantastic to get my first goal.”