Capello points to strong morale as source for win

Jermaine Defoe was England's hat-trick hero at Wembley last night.

Tottenham striker Defoe has become Fabio Capello's lucky charm after England made a flying start to their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.

Capello - who claimed he had been turned into a 'monster' by England's World Cup flop - can breathe easier now.

He said: "I'm focused on the game, not the critics. I thought we were really good. The movement, the pressing and the way we moved the ball very quickly. I'm really happy because in the last interview I said the players trained well and the spirit was good. I'm happy."

Deadly Defoe's double made it 12 goals in 18 appearances under Capello .

It gave England a superb start as they tried to set out on the road to redemption after the World Cup debacle.

The Wembley crowd of 73,246 got behind Capello and his players to help make it a good night for England.

The only bad point was Tottenham defender Michael Dawson suffering a horrific looking knee injury as he was stretchered off after 55 minutes.

Defoe, too, limped off four minutes from time after his third goal and was replaced by Ashley Young.

It was an excellent victory as keeper Joe Hart also made three terrific saves to help establish himself as England's new number one.

Hart spared full back Glen Johnson's blushes with a terrific save from the England full back's misplaced clearance and twice denied Bulgaria from point blank range.

Defoe's finishing eased their nerves as the in-form striker grabbed his first after three minutes.

His opener after good work from Ashley Cole and James Milner settled England and then the Spurs star scored again just as Bulgaria were threatening to get back in the game.

Substitute Adam Johnson then added a third for England in the 83rd minute as he cut inside the Bulgaria box before rifling a low shot past keeper Mihaylov.

Defoe then completed his first England hat trick by latching on to Wayne Rooney's through ball and then firing into the far corner.

Capello will be equally cheered by the good reception he and his team got at the beginning of their Euro 2012 campaign.

Defoe said: "I'm delighted with the performance tonight, not just the goals but the way we played and pressed in the first half."

The striker said of his partnership with Rooney: "Obviously when you play with a partner it takes a bit of time to gel but Wazza (Rooney) is a great player and technically gifted. Like I've said before, if I make the runs he'll find me and he did tonight.

"When I got the second he said 'keep going and you'll get the third' and it's always nice when you play with a partner and he wants you to get the hat-trick. It's good."