Montenegro frustrate England to stay top

England and Montenegro remain unbeaten in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying but neither side can claim absolute authority over Group G following a goalless draw at Wembley.

Zlatko Kranjčar's visitors started and finished the day top of the section by three points after a disciplined display in London, albeit having played a game more than England. Three successive 1-0 wins had catapulted them to the summit and, despite enjoying scant possession, they so nearly made it four in a row when Milan Jovanović struck the bar late on during a frustrating evening for their hosts.

Steven Gerrard was one of only a few of Fabio Capello's players to try livening up proceedings during the opening period, twice injecting early verve to no avail. The first occasion, a raking pass from deep in midfield, ended in Peter Crouch stretching but failing to make contact, while the second – a quickly-taken free-kick – finished with the Tottenham Hotspur FC striker heading Glen Johnson's cross over from close range.

Though Montenegro could muster only tame shots from Radomir Djalović and Simon Vukčević, it was not until first-half added time that the hosts, for all of their possession, hit the target themselves. Wayne Rooney's deflected effort was comfortably held by Mladen Božović, who had earlier breathed a sigh of relief when Adam Johnson's free-kick whistled wide.

In charge, but out of ideas, it was Gerrard who once again provided the first sign of second-half spark, threading a pass to Rooney which Božović smothered at the second attempt. Not until the 73rd minute, though, did England's gusto test the visiting keeper once more. Rooney's instinctive shot was only parried after disruptive work from substitute, and debutant, Kevin Davies, and Gerrard's ensuing volley was well held by the Montenegrin custodian.

Just as England's lack of penetration looked set to limit them to a point, Jovanović so nearly took all three off them with a 25-metre shot which crashed off Joe Hart's crossbar. Božović again denied Adam Johnson late on to ensure it was not England's night.