It took some effort, but England finally vanquished Montenegro at the fourth time of asking to move to within one match of qualification for next year's World Cup.

England being England, the game wasn't without its drama and it wasn't until the 78th minute, when the excellent Andros Townsend capped a brilliant debut with a long-range strike, that Roy Hodgson's men were finally assured of victory.

England, who had failed to beat the Montenegrins in three previous attempts in recent times, now have only Poland to negotiate on Tuesday to confirm their passage to Brazil.

The Poles, who lost to Ukraine earlier this evening, can no longer qualify and England will move towards that encounter in confident mood.

A 48th-minute strike from Wayne Rooney and a calamitous own goal from Montenegro's Branko Boskovic had set England on course for a comfortable win until Dejan Damjanovic threw a spanner in the works with 18 minutes left.

It looked as if it would take something special to finally see off the obdurate visitors — and so it proved. Townsend — his side's standout performer — ran at the Montenegro defence at pace before unleashing a ferocious effort from the edge of the area that clipped the post on its way in. A late penalty from Daniel Sturridge added some additional gloss to the scoreline.

Hodgson's players entered the match top of their group, having scored 25 goals in eight matches and conceding just three.

Their bright start reflected that statistical dominance. They dominated the early exchanges, with Rooney and Danny Welbeck both wayward with long-range efforts.

The match quickly fell into a familiar pattern, with the Montenegrins defending deeply, though trying to play their way out of danger calmly when it came there way.

At times England keeper Joe Hart was playing more like a sweeping as he collected loose balls and tried to quickly start another home attack.

England remained patient and nearly received reward on 23 minutes. Leighton Baines, playing at left-back in place of the injured Ashley Cole, cut to byline and got past Nikola Drincic, who appeared to bundle him over. Nonetheless the Everton defender was able to pull the ball back to Welbeck who ghosted past his marker before forcing a save from keeper Vukasin Poleksic at the near post.

At the opposite end Manchester City's Stevan Jovetic, playing in the hole, was linking up nicely with striker Dejan Damjanovic. The latter had the ball in the back of the net early in the half but was correctly flagged offside.

England continued to probe. Welbeck leapt highest to a Baines cross and flicked a header just wide. Steven Gerrard then had Poleksic sprawling to turn behind a long-range effort from the edge of the box. That attempt raised the noise levels in the stadium again, with the England fans having quietened following the news that Ukraine had taken the lead against Poland, meaning that a draw would almost certainly condemn England to the play-offs.

Yet Hodgson's men were yet to fashion a really golden opportunity, but one finally arrived five minutes before the interval. Poleksic could only parry Townsend's drive and the ball fell at the feet of Rooney. The Manchester United man looked a certainty to score, but he could only slam the ball into the side-netting.

The second half started in the same vein. Fortunately for England they got the goal they craved within three minutes. Townsend galloped half the length of the pitch with a typically incisive run. Though his cross was cut out, the ball fell to Welbeck who unleashed a rasping effort. The strike was too hot to handle for Poleksic, who spilled the ball at the feet of Rooney and the United man finished from close range.

The sense of relief around the stadium was palpable. Hodgson punched the air in delight; physio Gary Lewin also joined in the raucous celebrations.

The result appeared confirmed when Boskovic, running back towards his goal, sliced through a Welbeck cross and into his own net.

However England were rebuffed when Damjanovic toe-poked substitute Fatos Beqiraj's cross-cum-shot beyond Hart.

Nerves again spread around the stadium, but Townsend's solo run and Sturridge's spot kick — awarded for a blatant hack on the Liverpool man from Ivan Kecojevic — ensured England's win.