ENGLAND fans heeded a plea from captain David Beckham and behaved themselves last night before the match against Serbia-Montenegro.

There was no repeat of the disrespectful booing of a visiting team's national anthem which marred the last home international at Sunderland's Stadium of Light.

The authorities had feared the friendly match at the Walkers Stadium, Leicester, could attract trouble-makers and put at risk England's place in the European Championships.

England had been warned they could be expelled from the competition if there was any repeat of the ugly scenes before, during and after the match in the North-East against Turkey in April, when more than 50 people were arrested.

The next Euro 2004 qualifier is also in the region, at The Riverside in Middlesbrough, against Slovakia next Wednesday.

But preparations for the crucial match have been hit by plans to close Middlesbrough railway station straight after the final whistle.

Thousands of fans who had already booked train tickets to get to and from the town could now be stranded.