Substitute striker Fraizer Campbell and "grand old man" James Milner, who had earlier missed a penalty, fired the second-half goals that spared any nerves going into Monday's final Group B match against Germany as leaders.

At the back, City centre-half partnership Nedum Onuoha and Micah Richards, who passed a late fitness test on his knee after limping out of Monday's game, formed a formidable barrier in front of Blues goalkeeper Joe Hart. to blank an attack that scored 21 goals to qualify.

Onuoha returned to the side after missing the first tie through injury to find that Mark Noble, skipper in his absence for that 2-1 win over Finland, had retained the armband from former City manager Stuart Pearce.

And centre-back Nedum had his City team-mate Hart to thank for saving him from the huge embarrassment of marking his comeback with an own goal when he misdirected a strong backpass with just 11 minutes gone.

Hart was caught by surprise some distance from where the pass was headed, but the goalkeeper's sprint and desperate lunge hooked the ball clear a foot from the line. It was a closer call than Hart's good-natured grin implied.

But the reddest face of the first half belonged to Milner, the vastly-experienced veteran of the team, who squandered the chance to mark his 44th cap with a goal by failing to convert a 31st-minute penalty.

The Villa midfielder was tripped himself by Real Madrid's Javi Garcia as he turned the defender just inside the Spanish box, but keeper Sergio Asenjo guessed right for a spot kick Milner hit a little too close to him.

He redeemed himself with the fierce 73rd-minute strike that ensured England's passage once Campbell, on for the injured Gaby Agbonlahor, had finished superbly in the 67th minute to end the deadlock after Milner caught Spain in possession.

Milner was booked along with Richards, but the Villa man's second yellow of the tournament means he misses the game against Germany, who beat Finland after their opening goalless draw with the Spaniards.