1) Time for a sense of perspective

As this mismatch played out it was easy to become carried away with England's superiority in a contest that had been billed as "awkward" by players and management alike. The one-touch football that purred at times, whether delivered through central midfield or from full-back, might have left observers drooling. But England had not needed to conjure a world-class display to dismantle these opponents. The gameplan was basic, not revelatory. They reacted to the furious atmosphere by pressing just as frenziedly all over the pitch, particularly in central midfield where Scott Parker, on a first international start since October 2006, was a blur of energy. There was combination play to admire down the flanks, and an onus on the full-backs to contribute as attacking forces. These are the type of tactics that prosper every week in the Premier League. Wales, a side coaxed into believing they might glean reward here, simply could not cope and had no answer.

2) Fabio can be flexible after all

After the depressingly rigid 4-4-2 that contributed to restricting England at the World Cup, here at last was evidence that the national side can adapt their tactics under Fabio Capello's management. The friendly in Copenhagen last month had suggested that Jack Wilshere and Frank Lampard, as an orthodox midfield pairing, could be rendered vulnerable. So Capello utilised a busy tackler in Parker, rather than the sitter and distributor that is Gareth Barry, to offer the pair protection and England felt comfortable. Ashley Young relished the space between Ashley Williams and Danny Collins, with Wayne Rooney exploiting gaps on the opposite flank, and the full-backs were invited to overlap when the midfield and attacking trios squeezed narrower. This might have been 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-2-1 at times, but it was essentially a 4-3-3 which, according to Rio Ferdinand on Twitter, allowed the visitors "to press high up the pitch and give Wales no time to get playing". It certainly ensured England imposed themselves on the occasion.

3) Lampard's international career is far from over

The change in formation suited Wilshere, but it was Lampard who arguably benefited most of all. The 32-year-old had endured a week of suggestions that his days at this level were numbered, born largely of Capello's apparent reluctance to tweak his favoured system and the injury problems the veteran has suffered this term. Yet this was the set-up employed by Chelsea, in which Lampard prospers more often than not, and he revelled in the familiarity of it all, even as the right-sided of the central three. There were galloping runs forward through gaps in the Welsh rearguard, and clever inter-plays with team-mates to keep possession ticking over in the centre. He gained an 85th cap here, with the penalty rolled into the corner seven minutes in providing a first international goal in 18 months. England had needed his calm head early on. Thereafter this proved all too easy, but it appears there is life in Lampard yet.

4) Darren Bent can thrive at this level

The Aston Villa striker's conversion of Young's centre 15 minutes in meant that he had scored with his last three shots on target for England. Capello would like to play Andy Carroll as his front-line pivot, but Bent offers more fluid movement which can drag markers out of position and, potentially, allow team-mates space in which to inflict damage. Gérard Houllier might note the understanding that the striker demonstrated with his club-mate Young. This was a first competitive start for the forward – he had previously mustered only 30 minutes of competitive action, against Croatia and Switzerland under Steve McClaren and Capello, as a substitute – but he can no longer go ignored, even if Carroll represents the future. The booking picked up by Rooney here means he will miss the next qualifier of the campaign, against the Swiss at Wembley in June, which technically leaves Bent as this team's first-choice striker. That status is well deserved.

5) Gary Speed may have taken on the impossible job

For all the criticisms flung at Capello, only one of these managers appears to be on a true hiding to nothing. Gary Speed left a relegation battle at Sheffield United to take up the reins with his national team, but Wales remain pointless at the bottom of the qualification section and this performance did not suggest a radical change of direction from the John Toshack era. This was supposed to be a derby-like occasion akin to a Premier League fixture. That quickly proved unrealistic. After all, the Welsh boasted only five Premier League players in their starting line-up, though even that was deceptive: James Collins and Wayne Hennessey are embroiled in a relegation battle at the foot, Aaron Ramsey is only recently returned from long-term injury and spells on loan, while Craig Bellamy is currently loaned to Cardiff City in the Championship. They wilted early here, unable to deal with England's pressing and movement. Only when the visitors were lulled in a period towards the end did they threaten, belatedly, to build up a head of steam. Yet even that did not yield reward. The crowd may have whipped up an intimidating atmosphere in the stands, but the English had nothing to fear out on the pitch.