Josh Onomah’s stunning goal inspired England Under-21s to a comfortable 3-1 win over Scotland Under-21s in their Euro 2019 qualifier in Middlesbrough.

The midfielder’s spectacular half-volley fired the hosts to the top of Group Four as they brushed aside their old rivals at the Riverside Stadium.

Tammy Abraham added a second-half penalty and set up Dominic Solanke’s late third after Chris Cadden had struck for Scotland to reduce the deficit.

The Young Lions have now not lost a European qualifier since November 2011, a run of 28 games. A day after the senior side limped past Slovenia to qualify for the World Cup, Aidy Boothroyd’s youngsters provided the excitement and they head to Andorra on Tuesday looking to take control of the group.

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Scotland beat Holland 2-0 last month to open up the group but showed little sign of life after Onomah’s 14th-minute opener.

The visitors survived a couple of early scares with the defender John Souttar forced into late clearances but he could do nothing to stop Onomah.

The Tottenham midfielder, on loan at Aston Villa, collected the ball after a corner was only half-cleared and sent a looping half-volley into the top corner from 25 yards. Four minutes later Abraham poked Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s cross against the post before Demarai Gray shot wide as England threatened more goals.

The hosts dictated the tempo of the game early on but needed a second goal to underline their dominance. Abraham almost found it after 33 minutes, only for Liam Smith to block his snap shot.

In the first half Scotland barely looked like the side which upset Holland, with West Brom’s £15m man Oliver Burke and the St Mirren striker Lewis Morgan anonymous. Solanke should have added gloss to England’s fine first-half display but miscued his header wide from six yards out.

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England did double their lead in fortuitous circumstances four minutes after the break when Souttar was ruled to have felled Abraham in the box. Replays showed that Abraham tripped himself up but Swansea’s on-loan Chelsea striker still scored from the spot.

England were cruising but they slipped up with 12 minutes left when Joe Gomez was caught out and Oliver McBurnie teed up Cadden for a tap-in.

Solanke restored the hosts’ two-goal lead when Abraham set him up after Onomah’s brilliant through-ball.