New captain Wayne Rooney spared Roy Hodgson from more embarrassment as a record-low crowd watched England sneak past Norway in a stultifying Wembley friendly.
Just 40,181 turned up to the national stadium to watch England register a 1-0 win thanks to Rooney's 69th minute penalty.
It was the lowest England crowd at the new Wembley by more than eight thousand. Six of the last seven Johnstone's Paint Trophy finals have been better attended.
Wayne Rooney struggled yet again in his fourth match this season
The majority of the fans who came to north-west London on Wednesday night will feel they did not get value for money.
England's first shot on target was the one that Rooney, disappointing again, rifled past Ørjan Haskjold Nyland from 12 yards - and their build-up play was terribly slow at times, particularly in the first half.
It was only when Rooney's penalty hit the back of the net did England start to play anywhere near their best.
Danny Welbeck gave the Arsenal fans in the crowd a glimpse of his potential with a few mazy runs while Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge also showed flashes of positivity.
But Hodgson knows he will need too see an improvement from his men to win in Switzerland on Monday and to get the crowds flocking back to Wembley again.