Football
John Brewin, ESPN FC 9y

Hodgson delighted as Wayne Rooney sweeps Scotland aside

England manager Roy Hodgson paid tribute to captain Wayne Rooney after two goals put Scotland to the sword in a 3-1 victory at Celtic Park.

Rooney scored a header and later put the result beyond doubt with an 85th minute strike, halting a late Scotland revival after Andy Robertson had made it 2-1. Rooney celebrated England's third with an unlikely somersault.

"It's been a nice three or four days for him," said Hodgson. "We had the build-up to his 100th cap and we've added to that with this victory where we knew it would be a hard place to come and I'm sure Wayne is delighted."

Those goals took Rooney to 46 goals for England, leaving him just three short of Bobby Charlton's all-time record of 49. Hodgson paid tribute to a player he has worked with since Euro 2012.

"I can talk over two years, and he's certainly not a worse player," said Hodgson. Rooney has scored 18 in 28 matches for him. "His game is improving all the time, the responsibility he takes. There was an awful lot more to his play today than the two goals."

"I think milestones and records are important," continued Hodgson. "It must be nice for him to think that if he carries on his name will be on the top. He's also got a record number of caps in his sight. If he wants to get them, he'll have to keep his fitness and keep his form for a few more years."

Hodgson said he had not been aware of any sectarian chants sung by England fans during the match.

"I don't condone any chanting," he said. "My concentration was on the football match. I was aware that the crowd were tremendously supportive but I didn't have a clue what they were chanting to be perfectly honest. I heard a few chants about [Scotland manager] Gordon Strachan but that's all I could hear. People singing songs that I don't condone or people in football.

"If it goes on, and if anyone was offended then I am sure the FA will apologise to them but the fact is that all we can do is play our football and hope the support behaves themselves and makes sure their chanting is not being criticised."

Hodgson was shocked to hear of Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge's latest injury. Sturridge has not played for club or country since sustaining a thigh injury in September while on international duty.

"That's really bad news but the only positive is that we don't play until March," Hodgson said. "It was looking good with the form that Wayne and Danny [Welbeck] were in, and Daniel coming back in. I hope by March he'll be ok."

Strachan, meanwhile, admitted that England had been far more superior to his team. "That's probably the best performance against us in a long time," he said.

Scotland could at least reflect on a job well done on Friday against Ireland to keep qualifying hopes on course. "The point was getting the result against the Republic, which we did," said Strachan.

"The intensity and the pace England played at was fantastic. It kind of spooked our players a bit. It's a team full of Champions League players and they showed that tonight.

"We let ourselves down, to be honest with you, but not over the last ten days."

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