Club News

GALLERY: Foster v Long

Match action from England's friendly with Republic of Ireland

BEN Foster became the first Baggie to play for England on home soil in 29 years – after team-mate Shane Long threatened to ruin their former club boss’ night at Wembley.

Republic of Ireland striker Long broke the deadlock in the first meeting between the two countries in 18 years with a stunning 13th-minute header which beat first-half Three Lions keeper Joe Hart all ends up.

Thankfully for former-Albion-and-now-England boss Hodgson, who was in charge at The Hawthorns when Long joined from Reading almost two years ago, Frank Lampard leveled ten minutes later – and there was no further scoring.

Foster replaced Hart at half-time to become the first Albion player to represent England since Scott Carson in Germany in November 2008, and the first to wear a Three Lions shirt in this country since Steve Hunt in 1984.