England 5-0 Ireland | UEFA Nations League | Post Match

Lee Carsley's short-lived reign as England interim manager ended on the highest of high notes, as the Three Lions won promotion back to the top tier of the Nations League by demolishing 10-man Republic of Ireland 5-0 at Wembley.

The hosts initially struggled to make inroads against 11 men, but an early red card in the second half triggered an England onslaught, as Harry Kane stroked home the opener from 12 yards before Anthony Gordon, Conor Gallagher, Jarrod Bowen and Taylor Harwood-Bellis all scored their first senior goals for their country.

As expected, the departing Carsley recalled captain Kane to the England XI in the capital, but the Bayern Munich forward could not repeat Ollie Watkins's seven-minute trick against Greece and was frustrated alongside the rest of his teammates in the first 45.

The hosts had nearly three-quarters of the ball and fired eight shots on the Ireland goal in the first half, but not a single one of them found its way through to Caoimhin Kelleher, who was being guarded expertly by his defence.

Heimir Hallgrimsson's side were also showing a bit of intent on the counter-attack and should have been the happier outfit at half time, but that all changed early in the second half, when Liam Scales was sent off for a foul on Jude Bellingham and Kane did the rest from 12 yards.

With one of their defensive rocks sent for an early bath, Ireland's defensive game plan collapsed, and Carsley's rampant troops put the result beyond any doubt within a matter of minutes as Gordon and Gallagher - both netting their first England goals - also struck before the hour mark.

The first-time scorers were out in force at Wembley, as two more players waiting to open their England accounts - Bowen and the uncapped Harwood-Bellis - also breached a beleaguered Ireland backline to give Carsley the most perfect of perfect send-offs.

Even though Greece also beat Finland in their last League B Group 2 match, the Three Lions' superior head-to-head goals record means that they will shoot straight back up to League A without the need of a playoff, but Ireland must take part in a two-legged tie next spring to salvage their second-tier status.