World Cup on Betfair: England held while 1.03 Ireland denied at the death

Rooney scored early for England but his side failed to hang on

England let slip a 1-0 lead in Montenegro with a poor second half performance, Rep of Ireland concede in injury time, and there were defeats for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on a poor night for the home nations...

England are 1.444/9 (been matched at a low of 1.081/12) to win Group H after they were pegged back late in the game away to a determined Montenegro side.

It all looked plain sailing for Roy Hodgson's men as they took the lead on six minutes thanks to Wayne Rooney heading home a Steven Gerrard cross, this coming just minutes after the Manchester United striker had hit the post with an ambitious lob.

England looked in complete control during an assured first half performance but they failed to add to their single goal advantage before the interval. The Half Time 0-1 Score was matched at 4.67/2 while Rooney was matched at 9.28/1 to score first.

But as good as England were in the first half, Montenegro were equally good - and England equally poor - in the second half.

The home side's confidence increased as they created chance after chance, and eventually substitute Dejan Damjanovic scrambled the ball home to give Montenegro a deserved draw (backed at 6.05/1 In-Play). The 1-1 Correct Score was matched at a high of 12.011/1.

The most entertaining game of the evening came at the Aviva Stadium where Rep of Ireland were denied right at the death by Austria.

The Austrians led early through 15.5n/a First Goalscorer Martin Harnik, but a Jonathan Walters brace, the second coming on the stroke of half time, put the Irish ahead at the interval. The 2-1 Half Time Score was matched at 36.035/1.

Giovanni Trapattoni's side sat back deeper and deeper as the game approached a conclusion and they were made to pay when David Alaba fired home a superb effort with just seconds to go. The 2-2 Correct Score was matched at 21.020/1 though the Rep of Ireland were backed at a low of 1.031/33 to win the game In-Play with just minutes remaining.

Elsewhere Wales let slip a 1-0 lead to lose to Croatia 1-2, while both Scotland and Northern Ireland suffered 2-0 defeats to Serbia and Israel respectively.

Gareth Bale - matched at 9.617/2 in the First Goalscorer market - gave Wales a first half lead from the penalty spot but two second half goals gave the away side the victory, for which they were matched at 20.019/1 to do so. The 1-2 Correct Score was matched at 22.021/1.

Serbia never touched higher than 2.26/5 in their victory of Scotland, though Israel were matched at 6.86/1, and the 0-2 Correct Score at 65.064/1, before getting the better of Northern Ireland late in the game.