England 2 - 1 Switzerland. Capello sees plenty room for improvement

The goals from Jermaine Jenas and substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips on either side of the interval – and of the Swiss equaliser from another sub, Eren Derdiyok – were enough to prevent another bad night for the near-87,000 crowd, but not sufficient to suggest that the 2010 World Cup is as good as in the bag.

That goal from Jenas not only gave England the lead, but abruptly snuffed out the uneasy growling of a home crowd who had clearly begun to run out of the patience they had been prepared to nurse through the opening 30 minutes.

On their first outing since the defeat by Croatia that brought the embarrassing failure to qualify for Euro 2008, the England players would be thankful that the depth of interest in Capello's "new era" would help the support to focus on looking for hints of improvement rather than issuing derisory reminders of their recent shortcomings.

The distraction, however, would not be enough to preclude the nervousness and uncertainty that inevitably attach themselves to any group of players taking the field in the way that students enter an examination room.

There was also the inhibiting unfamiliarity of a team that had never played together, to say nothing of the 4-5-1 formations adopted by Capello and his rival, Kobi Kuhn, which made the midfield as busy and clogged as a Hogmanay street party. Excepting the moment when Jenas struck, England spent the entire first half trying to make each other's acquaintance, as well as endeavouring to come to terms with a playing system they do not encounter in the Premier League.

With Wayne Rooney the nominated lone forward, it was clear that those behind would be charged with thrusting forward in support quickly enough to be effective. This was rarely managed before Jenas scored, largely because of the white-shirted obstructions placed in their path.

Indeed, it was the Swiss who had the first scoring attempt, but Tranquillo Barnetta's low drive was comfortably held by David James, the 37-year-old veteran Portsmouth goalkeeper recalled to a start with the national team after a three-year absence.

What was required to penetrate the visiting midfield and defence was the kind of pass produced by Joe Cole, the ball zipping through the inside-left channel to Rooney, leaving the Manchester United striker one-on-one with Diego Benaglio. The goalkeeper, however, had been alert to the threat and was out quickly to block the shot.

Switzerland, more comfortable with their formation for much of the time, also had players capable of making accurate passes and moving intelligently into threatening positions, although not often enough to make them anywhere near fearsome. They did, however, have a powerful drive from Barnetta that whistled just wide of James' right-hand post, and a free-kick from Hakan Yakin that was headed on by Philippe Senderos and then headed wide by the Arsenal man's central defence partner, Mario Eggiman.

It was not until shortly before the goal from Jenas that England began to shrug off their uncertainty and offer a certain menace in forward areas. It was not exactly subtle, more an exercise of the will, but it did, obviously and for the first time, begin to have an unsettling effect on their visitors.

They had almost been made to pay for unforced errors when Joe Cole took possession on the left, drove to the dead-ball line and played a perfect low centre to Jenas, leaving the Tottenham man the simple task of sweeping the ball over the line from six yards.

Given the relative stuffiness and uneventfulness of that first half, few could have anticipated the series of explosions that would cause alarm – and goals – at both ends of the field and, in the process, relieve the fans of their boredom.

Kuhn could not have known when he sent on young Derdiyok at the start of the second half that he would make such an impact so early in his international debut. But Derdiyok was the beneficiary of an incisive move begun by Hakin, the last pass releasing him into the penalty area, from where he quickly sent his left-foot shot to the right of James for the equaliser.

The Swiss coach, however, would not enjoy much time in the warm afterglow before being chilled by the counter-strike that restored England's lead. Capello had clearly imbued his players with a greater sense of purpose at half-time, urging them to press forward more.

His instructions were followed to the letter when Rooney flicked the ball on to his captain, Steven Gerrard, who drove forward on the left. As defenders and the goalkeeper moved towards him, he sent the ball low towards the far post, where Wright-Phillips, who had replaced Joe Cole just five minutes earlier, had skipped into the void and simply had to roll the ball into the unprotected net from close range.

Not even the most jingoistic of Englishmen would concede that he had seen a brighter future on the strength of one match. But he would surely acknowledge, too, that that would have been too much to expect.

England: James, Brown, Ferdinand, Upson, A Cole, Bentley, Jenas (Wright-Phillips 57), Gerrard, Barry, J Cole (Crouch 57), Rooney. Subs not used: Carson, Richards, Lescott, Woodgate, Bridge, Hargreaves, Young, Owen, Defoe, Kirkland.

Switzerland: Benaglio, Lichtsteiner (Behrami 46), Senderos (Grichting 55), Eggiman, Spycher, Inler, Gelson (Huggel 84), Barnetta, Yakin (Margairaz 64), Gygax (Derdiyok 46), Nkufo (Vonlanthen 46). Subs not used: Zuberbuhler, Coltorti, Ziegler.

WARNING FOR UNUSED OWEN

FABIO Capello sent out a stark message to Michael Owen last night when he refused to explain why England's talisman was left on the bench during England's 2-1 victory against Switzerland at Wembley.

Owen was left on the bench as Capello made five second-half substitutions.

Asked why Owen was not involved, Capello said: "I think about substitutions according to what happens on the pitch and what I see. I decide who to bring on and who to take off. If people perform as I want they will stay on the pitch, if they don't they will come off. Players are all equal."

Capello was also unmoved by a section of Wembley fans who chanted for David Beckham, especially during a nervy period in the first half. The Italian, who dropped Beckham from his first squad, said: "It doesn't influence me at all. I'm happy for the supporters to chant David Beckham's name. The things I do have nothing to do with personal feelings for players. Everything is borne out of reasoning."

Capello insisted victory was crucial for the spirit of the side but also put England's uncertain start down to the pressure of playing at the new Wembley and a hangover from failing to qualify for Euro 2008.

Capello said: "We were quite nervous at the start. Worried. We had at the back of our minds the failure to qualify for Euro 2008. Wembley always generates pressure on players but we created many goal chances and we didn't give them many goal chances."

Capello said he would study the video of the match to understand how England's defence was opened up for Switzerland's goal, but he said: "That probably was the only defensive mistake we made in the whole game."

The new England manager also said he would continue to play key men such as Wayne Rooney for the full 90 minutes in friendlies because "I can rotate players to a certain extent but I need to get to know players."

Capello also predicted Switzerland could cause a few surprises at Euro 2008 in the summer. He said: "Switzerland will be a tough team to play against. They are very organised and play good football. If I have to find a flaw in Switzerland they are not good at finalising things with their last touch but I'm sure they will do well at the European Championships."

Swiss coach Jakob Kuhn said: "We never gave up and that is a positive. The performance was good because England fought hard. The English team has to rehabilitate itself with its supporters and with a new coach.

"We are not proud of being defeated but I am satisfied with the performance."