England Under-21s extend unbeaten run to NINE games against Spain in penultimate match before Lee Carsley returns

England’s Under-21s stretched their unbeaten run to nine games – and they had goalkeeper James Beadle to thank for a handful of wonder saves to keep Spain out.

In the penultimate game of Ben Futcher’s interim spell – with Lee Carsley to return to the role after his own interim spell in charge of the seniors – England handed debuts at this level to Jobe Bellingham and Southampton’s Tyler Dibling.

But in wind more befitting of the north of England than the south of Spain, this was an uphill battle from the off and this friendly concluded without a shot on target for the Young Lions.

The closest they came was via Bellingham magic. He picked up the ball on the half-turn before threading an exquisite pass between the Spanish defence to Jaden Philogene, only for the Aston Villa winger to curl it wide.

Ben Futcher (right) oversaw his penultimate game as Englad youth boss before Lee Carsley (left) returns

The friendly encounter in Spain concluded without a shot on target for the Young Lions

Spain really should have won and the closest they came was substitute Hugo Bueno smashing against the crossbar in the final minute in one of the rare occasions Beadle found himself beaten.

Extended match story to follow.