A generally even contest, in which both sides hit the woodwork, was settled by a nice Danny Welbeck finish 10 minutes before half-time.

Roy Hodgson has now seen his new side collect two victories from two and keep clean-sheets in both, which has boosted the morale in the camp ahead of Euro 2012.

Arsenal's Walcott came off the bench in the second-half as he looked to cement a place in Hodgson’s starting XI against France in just under a week.

Walcott believes the team can take a lot of encouragement from the narrow win, telling the official England website: "It was another positive performance, not just as a back four but the structure of the whole team.

"In a short amount of time we are getting (to grips with) the way Roy likes to set up the team, but I believe the best is still to come.

"We always know we are going to score goals and going into a tournament when you know you are going to keep clean sheets, that is very important for the group stage.

"We've got a manager that believes in us, he likes us to play with no fear and he always tells us to enjoy ourselves."