On Tuesday, in fact. Same place, same outcome. Only then can Roy Hodgson's World Cup mission be a qualified success. Beat Poland at Wembley in four days' time and England will have confirmed their berth in Brazil. Anything less and play-off drama awaits, at best.
For now, though, savour the moment. Hodgson wished for a marquee result to change the perception of his England as lumpen and dour, and here it was. The home side well deserved their win and the margin, too.
Super strike: Andros Townsend scores England's third goal on his international debut
That is not to say there was not tension - particularly at half-time when the score was 0-0 with news already in of Ukraine's win over Poland - but there was also vindication, for Hodgson and his selections.
He left out Jack Wilshere in the middle and inserted Andros Townsend on the right. The result justified the first, the performance the second.
Townsend was man of the match, the breath of fresh air England have needed for so long. He helped set up the all-important breakthrough, and when Montenegro had pulled the scoreline back to 2-1, Townsend's goal made England comfortable again. He left the field soon after to a standing ovation, and his starting place against Poland next week should be guaranteed.
And yet this is only a job half done. Ukraine will beat San Marino in their final fixture, we can presume that. So, while Friday night's result means the worst outcome should be a place in the World Cup play-offs there is still the potential for falling at the last and finishing second if the game against Poland ends in anything less than victory.
So, no room for complacency. All Poland have to play for now is the kudos of messing up England at Wembley a second time, in a defiant echo of 1973. This means Hodgson's players must be every bit as attack-minded next week as they were to secure this, a first win in four attempts over Montenegro.
With any luck, this is the end of Hodgson: the cautious years. Here was a result that showed what could be achieved with an England team sent out on the front foot, as observers such as Harry Redknapp have long advocated.
Not fatally so - Robert Lewandowski is still going to take some watching on Tuesday - but this was a far cry from the clumsy, unambitious performance that drew brickbats in Kiev. Hodgson at last found England's top gear, he gambled, and won.
Celebration: Townsend can't hide his delight following his wonder goal
Sealed the points: Townsend runs off in celebration after his goal
Lining it up: Townsend lines up the shot and rifles it into the corner
Great shakes: Roy Hodgson congratulates Townsend on a job well done
We have lift-off: Wayne Rooney (No 10) scores England's opening goal from close range
Crucial strike: Rooney puts England ahead with a scuffed finish
WALKER SUSPENDED
Kyle
Walker will be suspended for the crucial final qualifier at home to
Poland on Tuesday after picking up his second booking of the campaign.
Phil Jones is a possible replacement at right back.
Had England lost, Hodgson would not doubt have been pilloried for turning maverick too late. It did not happen. Townsend gave England what they so sorely lacked against Ukraine, the offensive out ball, and the thrust that scares even the most well-marshalled defenders.
Montenegro resisted in their usual rows, but the key to it all for England was timing. Had the second-half progressed 20, maybe 30, minutes without the deadlock being broken, the tension would have been unbearable. Instead, now knowing that anything bar victory would end their hopes of qualifying automatically, England scored within three minutes of the restart. The jubilant abandon of Hodgson's reaction said it all.
To some extent, England got a little lucky. Townsend sped down the flank from inside his own half and hit a cross which was not his best.
The headed clearance however, was equally flawed and fell only to the feet of Danny Welbeck, whose shot was well saved by Montenegro's stand-in goalkeeper Vukasin Poleksic. Wayne Rooney was first to react, controlled the ball smartly under pressure and finished superbly. He has scored more competitive goals than any English player in history.
Roy's relief: Hodgson shows what Townsend's goal means to him
Slice of luck: Branko Boskovic (left) looks on as his own goal trickles in to make it 2-0 to England
Worth a shot: Andros Townsend has an effort on goal
Back in it: Dejan Damjanovic (left) scored to pull a goal back for Montenegro
Spot on: Daniel Sturridge scores England's final goal
Jumping the hurdle: Leighton Baines tries to get between two Montenegro defenders
THE DECIDER
England v Poland, Tuesday October 15, Wembley, kick-off 8pm, Live on ITV1 and Mail Online
As if to tell of the danger of thinking the job done, Montenegro then made the score 2-1. Substitute Fatos Beciraj shot from range, and striker Dejan Damjanovic stuck out a foot which diverted the ball past Joe Hart.
The offending boot looked offside, a point Hart made rather forcefully but without success, yet it wouldn't be an England qualifier without a little drama - and perhaps twice overcoming the feelings of tension inside the stadium will stand these players in good stead on Tuesday, when anything other than an early goal will elicit similar emotions.
As it was, the hero of the night, Townsend, ensured the final minutes were played amid relative calm. Sturridge did the donkey work, mopping up the loose ball 30 yards from the Montenegro goal, but it was Townsend, confident and fearless on his international debut, who performed an act of sporting alchemy. He collected from Sturridge and motored forward, veering right at the last moment before beating Poleksic at his near post.
Head in hands: Rooney reacts after missing a golden opportunity
Off target: Gerrard attempts a shot which went well over
Eyes on the ball: Gerrard marshals Branko Boskovic
Just to round off a night that often confounded expectations, England concluded by successfully converting a penalty. It was deep in injury time when Vladimir Volkov clumsily fouled Sturridge and Rooney generously let his young partner do the honours. It wasn't the finest strike, but it sent Poleksic the wrong way and gave the scoreline an emphatic look that was precisely what Hodgson demanded.
The coach talked of going back and forth on his team selection before this match, and there is little doubt that Gary Neville would have influenced the Townsend decision - having privately advocated less caution for some time.
The hope is that the absence of club-mate Kyle Walker does not in any way influence thinking over Townsend next week. Hodgson spoke of liking the Walker-Townsend partnership at Tottenham Hotspur, but Walker will be suspended for the Poland match, his place most likely to be taken by Manchester United's Phil Jones.
That shouldn't lead to a review of Townsend's position, though. This was England with the wow factor, an England team that proved a point - and he was central to that achievement.
And Hodgson, naturally, looked delighted. Happier than any had seen him throughout this campaign, and one can only hope he remembers and enjoys this feeling of managing a popular England team that plays its football on the front foot. This good mood should be infectious - not least as nothing less than three points will do against Poland, either. Same again, barman.
Having a go: Stevan Jovetic lines up a shot despite the attentions of Gerrard and Lampard
Fast start: Debutant: Andros Townsend runs with the ball watched by two Montenegro defenders
Doubling up:Townsend tries to escape Montenegro's Vladimir Volkov (No 5)
Nervous: Roy Hodgson looked pensive before kick-off at Wembley
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