Two goals each by Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch got England's 2008 European Championship qualifying campaign off to a flying start.

Steven Gerrard capped an inspirational midfield performance by taking his goal tally into double figures for his country as England warmed up for Wednesday's match in Macedonia with an easy Group E win.

McClaren admitted his players had played in exactly the way he wanted and he told the BBC: "We handled the game very well. The players did just what we asked of them.

"It was always going to be a test but we controlled the tempo and never got frustrated despite some of their tackles.

"We scored at the right times and could have had more. They were good goals against any opposition and it was nice to see the main strikers score.

"You have to do a job against teams like Andorra and we did that. The players are developing into my style of play and they did very well."

McClaren made two changes to the side that started the 4-0 friendly win over European champions Greece at the same venue two weeks earlier. Everton's Phil Neville replaced his injured brother Gary while Wes Brown started in place of Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand, who was nursing a damaged toe.

Andorra had arrived in Manchester with no hope - and no kit.

The team listed 132nd in FIFA's rankings were forced to borrow a strip after their luggage was lost. The trip did not get any better for the tiny nation in the Pyrenees.

With just one competitive win to show in their short 10-year history, the Andorra defence held out just four-and-a-half minutes before Crouch gave England the lead from close range, the Liverpool striker's ninth goal in 13 appearances for his country.

It was just the high-tempo start McClaren had demanded from his troops and the England coach was celebrating again when Gerrard doubled the lead with an unstoppable drive into the top corner of the net after the Liverpool captain had chested down Ashley Cole's left-wing cross.

At times England's first competitive game under McClaren seemed like a glorified training session yet it was not until the 38th minute that the third goal was scored.

Defoe, who had earlier spurned a fine chance, made no mistake this time as the Tottenham striker volleyed home from eight-yards after great work by the tireless Gerrard.

Andorra, who failed to mount a single noteworthy attack, were fortunate not to trail by a bigger margin at half-time. Keeper Koldo palmed an Owen Hargreaves free-kick on to the inside of his post as England stepped up the tempo.

The second-half was barely one minute old when 23-year-old Defore made it 4-0 after another well executed finish following a neat move involving Neville.

Despite boasting a comfortable cushion, England became increasingly frustrated by Andorra's attempts to slow the game down. Antonio Sivera went crashing to the ground clutching his face following a tussle with Owen Hargreaves yet television replays showed the England man had done nothing wrong.

Defoe was denied a hat-trick by Koldo's excellent 57th minute save before the striker was taken off for Everton's Andy Johnson to win his third cap. By then England were 5-0 ahead, Crouch heading home substitute Aaron Lennon's cross with 24 minutes still remaining.

Crouch had netted a hat-trick for his country at the venue in a pre-World Cup warm-up game and he ought to have had another one against part-time opponents.

Johnson had only been on the pitch for a few minutes when he carved out an excellent chance for his strike partner yet Crouch was left holding his head in his hands as he screwed his shot wide of the target.