WHILE the headlines were about the continuing international rehabilitations of David Beckham and Michael Owen and a relatively good performance, England's 3-0 victory over Estonia on Wednesday night offered Watford fans an opportunity to watch their new keeper in action. In truth though, Mart Poom had few opportunities to impress.

The European Championship Group E qualifier was a strange game in some respects for the 35-year-old, for although he conceded three times in the city where he was born, Tallinn, he was not as busy as he might have expected as England moved to within three points of leaders Croatia. Indeed, the third of Aidy Boothroyd's four summer signings to date only had one shot to save, coming six minutes from time when he comfortably dealt with a Stewart Downing effort.

The keeper, appropriately wearing a yellow jersey, read potentially dangerous situations generally well while his handling was sound. The former Arsenal, Sunderland, Derby and Portsmouth stopper also displayed good agility in the first-half when he was forced to move smartly to deal with a couple of David Beckham deliveries that bounced awkwardly in front of him.

But Poom's - and Estonia's - undoing, certainly for the first two goals, was the quality of England's supply and execution.

The keeper was surprised, and possibly unsighted, when Joe Cole chested a Peter Crouch flick-on up and behind himself before spinning and striking a fine half-volley that veered away from Poom and beat his dive to give England the lead.

Then, after the break, Crouch placed a header out of the reach of the home side's number one after Beckham's magnificent early ball from the right had missed out a defender and sat up invitingly near the edge of the area.

However, Poom, who will battle it out with Richard Lee next season, might have been disappointed with his part in England's third goal.

While there was no denying the quality of Beckham's delivery, the keeper might have cut out the cross had he continued his initial advance off the goalline, but instead he hesitated and went back and was beaten by Owen.