England U21 v Romania U21: Expect another win to nil for Pearce's boys

21Mar 2013

Betfair

Michael Lintorn discusses the latest addition to the England U21 staff, and forecasts another fine win...

England U21 v Romania U21, Thursday 19:00, ESPN, Match odds: England U21 1.31, Romania U21 8.2, The Draw 4.8

The Neville-isation of English football has continued with the confirmation that Phil Neville will join Stuart Pearce's coaching staff for this summer's European U21 Championship.

Older brother Gary is already a key part of the senior set-up having been recruited as a coach by Roy Hodgson last year.

Meanwhile Phil, whose eagerness to enter management post-retirement led him to sound out Jose Mourinho about the finer points a few years ago, got involved with the Young Lions briefly last spring while Pearce was performing caretaker duties for the main side.

The Everton skipper is viewed by the FA as a potential replacement for Pearce, who has been in charge for six years and achieved great results yet has still struggled to convince the public and is out of contract after the tournament.

Pearce said: "Can Phil be one of my future successors? Yes, that's the plan. The FA have their eyes on him and want to push him on and we want to encourage that."

For now though, three months prior to their trip to Israel to compete with the host nation, Italy and Norway in Group A, they are taking on non-qualifiers Romania at Wycombe's Adams Park.

The hosts are worthy 1.3 favourites for the victory given that they possess the kind of form that would render a Pearce exit instigated by anyone other than the former defender grossly unfair. Not only have his team won seven on the spin; they haven't conceded a single goal in the process.

Blend in the fact that the Young Lions have never lost to Romania in five meetings, two of which occurred this decade, and that the visitors were felled 3-0 in their trickiest away qualifier against France (who later lost in the play-offs), and there is no obvious reason to fear an end to the streak.

Recommended Bet: Back England U21 to win to nil @ 2.3