Kenilworth Road played host to international football under the lights as a Morgan Rogers brace inspired the England's Young Lions to a 4-1 win in Ben Futcher's first home game in interim charge of the nation's Under-21s.
Two goals from Rogers either side of half-time, and further strikes from James McAtee and Tom Fellows were enough for the win despite Thierno Ballo’s leveller in the 35th minute.
It was a lively start in LU1 as Liam Delap would be booked 38 seconds into the game for what was deemed to have dived in the Austrian box, referee Stephanie Frappart waving away calls for a penalty.
England goalkeeper James Beadle was called into action soon after, Austrian winger Christoph Lang forcing a save out of the Young Lions keeper from a free-kick on the edge of the box.
The Young Lions would though take the lead short of the half-hour mark, McAtee - the brother of former Town forward John - being brought down in the box, this time given by the referee, with Rogers capitalising and firing the ball into the top left-hand corner past Nikolas Polster.
However, the lead would be short-lived as a similar defensive mistake to the one at the other end saw winger Thierno Ballo curl a shot from outside the box into the England net.
Chances from Delap, Rogers and Sam Iling-Junior could have seen the hosts retake the lead, but it would be level going into the half-time break.
The Young Lions would start where they left off, a lovely bit of play ending up with Rogers doubling his tally for the night with a brilliant finesse shot past the Austrian keeper.
McAtee got his reward for his efforts just short of the hour mark, Lewis Hall putting in a brilliant cross on a plate for the midfielder, who turned the ball home to extend the Young Lions' lead to two goals.
With 20 minutes to play the Young Lions would come close to making it four, this time substitute Jamie Gittens using his pace to beat the defender, but he was unable to direct his shot on target.
A half dominated by the hosts would only get better, replacement Tom Fellows getting in on the act as Hall was yet again involved assisting with another left-footed cross into the back post.
Jonathan Rowe thought he’d made it five, a brilliant run in behind matched with a sublime lob over the jumping keeper, but his joy was short-lived as the fine effort was ruled out for offside.
The Young Lions ended the game strongly but were unable to find that fifth goal, with Borussia Dortmund forward Gittens coming the closest to getting on the scoresheet.
England U21: Beadle, Hinshelwood, Quansah (Wood-Gordon 82'), Harwood-Bellis (Cressell 46'), Morton (Gray 72'), Scott (Hackney 60'), Delap (Rowe 72'), McAtee (Anderson 72'), Hall, Iling-Junior (Fellows 72'), Rogers (Gittens 60').
Subs not used: Trafford (GK), Cox (GK), Doyle.
Goals: Rogers (pen 25', 49'), McAtee (59'), Fellows (81')
Austria U21: Polster (Jungwirth 82'), Bockle (Reischl 82'), Baidoo, Estrada (Koller 46'), Wohlmuth (Gattermayer 64'), Ballo, Micheler (Braunoder 46'), Briedl (Sattlberger 54'), Lang (Omoregie 82'), Grgic (Adewumi 64'), Seidl (Oswald 64')
Subs not used: Omic, Spari, Tambwe-Kasengele.
Referee: Stephanie Frappart
Att: 5,294
Report by James Logan
