Montenegro maintained control of FIFA World Cup qualifying Group H as Dejan Damjanović came off the bench to earn a share of the spoils against England in Podgorica.

The Three Lions appeared to be going top of the section when Wayne Rooney headed Roy Hodgson's men into an early lead, but intense second-half pressure secured an equaliser and a point for Branko Brnović's team. The result preserves Montenegro's two-point advantage in the group, which could be stretched when they entertain third-placed Ukraine on 7 June as the Balkan country bid to make a first major finals appearance.

The opener arrived on six minutes, but the visitors could easily have been ahead before that. Rooney's deft chip came back off the post and Glen Johnson's effort skimmed the crossbar before England went in front. Rooney lost Vladimir Volkov to thump Steven Gerrard's corner inside the post.

England remained a threat on the flanks through James Milner and Danny Welbeck, the former flashing a shot across the face of goal before Gerrard saw a goalbound strike well blocked by Marko Baša, as Montenegro struggled for fluency.

The hosts came out with renewed vigour after the interval and Stefan Jovetić headed just the wrong side of the post, before volleying wide. Mirko Vučinić went close twice and Gerrard deflected the ball onto his own post as the pressure was cranked up on the England goal. The away team finally cracked in the 76th minute, when substitute Damjanović poked in at the third attempt after seeing two efforts diverted off the line, to keep Montenegrin World Cup hopes well and truly alive.