Wayne Rooney saves ragged England from stubborn 10-man Estonia

England produced a laboured performance but managed to edge past 10-man Estonia 1-0 in their Euro 2016 qualifier, thanks to a Wayne Rooney free kick at the A. Le Coq Arena.

Captain Wayne Rooney celebrates his winning free kick with left-back Leighton Baines 

Despite the poor showing against a modest Estonia side, where a number of early chances went amiss and possession was dominated, England still sit top of Group E with nine points and plus eight goal difference.

One-man advantage
After Estonia's captain Ragnar Klavan was sent off early in the second half, it took 73 minutes for England to break the deadlock when Rooney scored a close range free kick to take his international goals tally to 43 - one behind Jimmy Greaves in the Three Lions' all time leader board.

Substitute Raheem Sterling, who asked Roy Hodgson to be rested for the game, was tripped on the edge of the box and Rooney stepped up to score, although it could be argued the Estonia goal-keeper, Sergei Pareiko, should have done better to stop it as managed parry the ball into the inside netting after getting two hands on the ball.

One-sided affair
England dominated 77% of possession but, with 25 shots and only six on target, clear-cut goal opportunities were hard to come by, even after Klavan was sent from the field after 48 minutes for a second yellow card when he intentionally body checked Fabian Delph.

Rooney had the first of a few good chances in the game when he volleyed over the bar from six yards early on.

The England and Manchester United captain also saw his attempted over-head kick fly across the face of goal at the end of the second half. Rooney had another free kick late into added time but could only put it over the bar from near enough the same distance as his first.

England next game is on 15 November against Slovenia at Wembley.