England 1-0 Austria: Ellen White scores winner on 100th appearance

Ellen White scored on her 100th appearance to maintain England's winning run in Women's World Cup qualifying with a narrow victory over Austria at the Stadium of Light.

Beth Mead and Fran Kirby also went close in freezing conditions.

England have won all five of their qualifying matches without conceding.

Manager Sarina Wiegman expected this to be England's toughest test in qualifying to date, and so it proved with Austria keeping them at bay for almost 40 minutes.

The conditions in Sunderland were also a factor - severe weather warnings prior to kick-off meant supporters were advised not to travel and there were flurries of hail for spells in the second half.

But White, who was presented with a commemorative shirt before kick-off to acknowledge her landmark cap, eventually provided the goalscoring instinct England needed, after Kirby's strike was deflected into her path.

That capped off a dominant first half from England, who controlled possession and began to open up spaces as the break drew nearer.

Kirby and Mead combined well down the right on several occasions but could not capitalise, while Lauren Hemp came close to picking out White in the middle a few times.

The visitors were well organised however, making it difficult for England to break them down, but Wiegman's side were patient and eventually got their reward.

Austria threatened early in the second half, forcing two saves in quick succession from goalkeeper Mary Earps, but otherwise England remained on top and should have extended their lead.

The Lionesses travel to Doncaster on Tuesday for their next qualifier, taking on Latvia, who they thrashed 10-0 last month.

• Reaction to England's win over Austria

White closes in on record

Kelly Smith's record of 46 goals for the Lionesses is being hunted by White and she had chances in the second half to at least equal it.

She did not match Smith's record in Sunderland but it was fitting that on her 100th appearance it was the ever-reliant striker and the Lionesses' top scorer at the 2019 World Cup who provided the one goal her side managed.

She was applauded before kick-off by fans, team-mates and the media as Baroness Campbell presented her with a special "100" shirt and fellow forward Mead jumped into her arms in celebration when White scored.

Mead herself was playing in front of home fans in the north east - an area where she grew up and began her career - and every time she touched the ball there was an eagerness from the stands.

It was also a special day for Chelsea defender Millie Bright, who captained England for the first time under Wiegman and kept a clean sheet.

She returns to her hometown of Doncaster on Tuesday hoping for an easier evening against world number 102 side Latvia.

In all, it was another successful 90 minutes for England, who have now scored 33 goals without reply in qualifying.

Player of the match

KirbyFran Kirby

with an average of 7.77

• EnglandEnglandEngland
• AustriaAustriaAustria

England

Avg

1. Squad number8Player nameKirby

   Average rating

   7.77
2. Squad number6Player nameBright

   Average rating

   7.35
3. Squad number9Player nameWhite

   Average rating

   7.32
4. Squad number1Player nameEarps

   Average rating

   7.30
5. Squad number7Player nameMead

   Average rating

   7.24
6. Squad number4Player nameWalsh

   Average rating

   7.24
7. Squad number11Player nameHemp

   Average rating

   7.13
8. Squad number5Player nameGreenwood

   Average rating

   7.04
9. Squad number2Player nameDaly

   Average rating

   6.85
10. Squad number14Player nameStanway

    Average rating

    6.78
11. Squad number3Player nameStokes

    Average rating

    6.68
12. Squad number10Player nameToone

    Average rating

    6.51
13. Squad number17Player nameParris

    Average rating

    6.23
14. Squad number15Player nameCarter

    Average rating

    6.01

Austria

Avg

1. Squad number7Player nameWenninger

   Average rating

   5.67
2. Squad number12Player nameWienroither

   Average rating

   5.61
3. Squad number14Player nameHöbinger

   Average rating

   5.57
4. Squad number1Player nameZinsberger

   Average rating

   5.32
5. Squad number9Player nameZadrazil

   Average rating

   5.19
6. Squad number19Player nameHanshaw

   Average rating

   5.05
7. Squad number22Player nameEnzinger

   Average rating

   4.86
8. Squad number8Player nameDunst

   Average rating

   4.78
9. Squad number3Player nameNaschenweng

   Average rating

   4.65
10. Squad number5Player namePlattner

    Average rating

    4.48
11. Squad number15Player nameBilla

    Average rating

    4.43
12. Squad number13Player nameKirchberger

    Average rating

    4.43
13. Squad number17Player namePuntigam

    Average rating

    4.14
14. Squad number18Player nameWienerroither

    Average rating

    3.79