Poland 1-1 England: Wayne Rooney scores but Roy Hodgson's men labour to draw in Warsaw

The Manchester United striker gave England the lead on 31 minutes when he headed home Steven Gerrard’s corner.

But the hosts grabbed a deserved share of the points, thanks to Kamil Glik, who headed an equaliser 20 minutes from time.

The result means that England stay top of Group H, but only a point ahead of Montenegro, who have a game in hand.

It certainly wasn’t a stellar display from Roy Hodgson’s men, who laboured for much of the encounter on a surface that less than 24 hours earlier had been swamped in water, leading to game’s postponement.

The extra day’s rest didn’t seem to aid the visitors as stray passes littered their play, but they nonetheless took the lead on 31 minutes when Rooney found space in the area to flick home from from Gerrard who, along with Ashley Cole, made his 99th appearance for England.

The strike was Rooney’s third in two matches, the Manchester United man adding to the brace he hit against San Marino last Friday.

Shortly before Rooney’s strike, Poland’s main threat Robert Lewandowski collected the ball on the edge of England area before ghosting past Tom Cleverley. The Borussia Dortmund forward drove in to the box from the right and lashed a low shot that fizzed across keeper Joe Hart’s goal.

Rooney’s goal dampened the hosts’ enthusiasm, but the Poles returned from the interval with renewed resolve.

Phil Jagielka made a hash of a clearance and the ball ran into the path of Lewandowski who, with his foot poised to shoot, was stop in his tracks by the impressive Glen Johnson.

On 65 minutes, Jermain Defoe had a golden chance to double England’s advantage, but, from just five yards, he comfortably missed the target when picked out by Gerrard.

It was to be Defoe’s last act as he was replaced by Danny Welbeck, who soon set up Rooney for another chance, cutting back to his club team-mate from the bye-line. Rooney fired well over.

The miss would prove costly as Poland equalised on 70 minutes through Kamil Glik, who rose highest to Ludovic Obraniak’s corner to head past Hart, who was flapping.

Hodgson replaced Rooney with Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but to little effect, as both sides struggled to threaten thereafter, a draw a just reward for both sides’ efforts.