Lampard put England ahead
with a seventh minute penalty and Bent doubled the lead in the 15th minute as
the 100th international between the two old rivals went England's way for the
65th time.
The defeat in Wales manager
Gary Speed's first competitive match in charge, all but ended any lingering
hopes Wales had of reaching next year's finals in Ukraine and Poland as they
have now lost all four of their qualifiers.
England top Group G with 10
points from four matches, the same as Montenegro who have an inferior goal
difference. Switzerland and Bulgaria, who were also playing on Saturday,
started the day with three points each with Wales bottom.
The eagerly awaited match was
virtually over as a contest after an opening 15 minutes in which England silenced
the home crowd, who had given their team a rousing rendition of the Welsh
national anthem after roundly booing England's.
England goalkeeper Joe Hart
was nothing more than an observer as England's new-look midfield of teenager
Jack Wilshere, Lampard and Scott Parker took a grip of the game with Ashley
Young and the over-lapping Ashley Cole punishing Wales on the flanks.
Wales, being led by
20-year-old skipper Aaron Ramsey for the first time, were pressed back deep in
their own half for long periods and buckled under England's early pressure.
Defender James Collins
slipped and then clipped the heels of his Aston Villa team mate Young as he
attempted to recover, conceding the penalty.
Lampard made no mistake from
the spot, scoring his 21st goal for his country on his 85th appearance.
The second exposed the gulf
in class between the sides as a Glen Johnson chip released Young on the right
wing. His low cross found Bent, who swept the ball home from six meters out.
Wales came more into the game
in the second half with Craig Bellamy making one superb run that ultimately
came to nothing, and lone Wales striker Steve Morison firing over the bar.
The home side, who never lost
heart despite being largely outclassed, never allowed England to relax but
apart from a Bellamy free kick in the first half which Hart punched clear, they
never looked like saving the match.
