Report: Serbia 0-3 England MU21s

James McAtee’s first goals for England MU21s helped the Young Lions return to winning ways with a comfortable 3-0 result against Serbia.

Lee Carsley’s team responded to defeat against Ukraine last time out with a mature performance away in Backa Topola, with McAtee netting twice before the break before Harvey Elliott sealed the points in the second half.

The result leaves the defending U21 EURO champions second in the group ahead of Tuesday’s home match against Northern Ireland at Goodison Park.

England enjoyed an impressive showing in the reverse fixture, winning 9-1 at the City Ground in October, and it took McAtee just five minutes to find the breakthrough in Serbia.

The midfielder won the ball high up the pitch and unleashed a shot which looped in over Veljko Ilic courtesy of a deflection off Mihajlo Ilic.

Liam Delap nearly made it two five minutes later, but the striker could only direct his header just wide after a dangerous cross from Noni Madueke.

McAtee doubled his and England’s tally, with the Manchester City loanee superbly letting fly from outside the box to leave Ilic no chance.

The Young Lions continued to dominate proceedings, with Madueke and Tino Livramento combining well to open up the Serbian defence before the latter’s cross was blocked.

Serbia were not without their chances and almost found a route back into the game after James Trafford misplaced a pass, but the Burnley ‘keeper was quick to smother the loose ball.

McAtee continued to be heavily involved after the break, but his shot sailed over the bar but Elliott notched England’s third ten minutes into the second half.

More good work from Madueke saw the winger weave through a number of challenges before teeing up Elliott, who rifled home from outside the box.

Mihajlo Ilic then had Serbia’s best chance to get on the scoresheet, but the defender could only poke wide after latching onto Uros Kabic’s cross.

The Young Lions continued to push for more and substitute Jay Stansfield nearly marked his MU21s debut with a goal, only to be denied by the post after a neat swivel on the edge of the box.

But Carsley’s men had already done enough to seal victory and now head to Merseyside to look to complete their calendar year with a win.

England (4-3-3): 1 James Trafford (Burnley), 2 Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), 3 Bashir Humphreys (Swansea City on loan from Chelsea), 4 Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), 5 Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton on loan from Manchester City), 6 Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough), 7 Jaden Philogene-Bidace (Hull City), 9 Liam Delap (Hull City on loan from Manchester City), 10 James McAtee (Sheffield United on loan from Manchester City), 11 Noni Madueke (Chelsea), 19 Harvey Elliott (Liverpool)

Substitutes: 20 Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City on loan from Fulham) for Delap 67’, 21 Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (Borussia Dortmund) for Philogene-Bidace 67’, 14 Tyler Morton (Hull City on loan from Liverpool) for McAtee 74’, 16 Jarell Quansah (Liverpool) for Branthwaite 82’, 23 Josh Wilson-Esbrand (Reims on loan from Manchester City) for Humphreys 82’

Subs not used: 12 Brooke Norton-Cuffy (Millwall on loan from Arsenal), 13 Matthew Cox (Bristol Rovers on loan from Brentford), 15 Charlie Cresswell (Leeds United), 17 Samuel Iling-Junior (Juventus)

Goals: McAtee 5’ 19’, Elliott 55’

Cautions: Delap

Head coach: Lee Carsley

Serbia (5-3-2): 3 Mihajlo Ilic, 6 Aleksa Matic, 7 Stefan Mitrovic, 11 Vladimir Lucic, 13 Stefan Lekovic, 14 Uros Lazic, 16 Mateja Djordjevic, 19 Nikola Petkovic, 20 Nikola Stankovic, 21 Petar Ratkov, 23 Veljko Ilic

Substitutes: 8 Mihailo Stevanovic for Stankovic 58’, 10 Uros Kabic for Matic 58’ 4 David Petrovic for N Petrovic, 22 Milos Lukovic for Lucic, 18 Samed Bazdar for Ratkov

Subs not used: 5 Uros Drezgic, 9 Marko Lazetic, 12 Andrija Katic, 15 Nemanja Dekovic,

Cautions: Ratkov