Leroy Lita, the striker who made Stuart Pearce’s weekend a misery, made his night this time by scoring the goal that completed a rousing comeback by England Under-21s on their new coach’s introduction to the international dugout.

Lita had scored twice in Reading’s victory on Saturday to increase the pressure on the Manchester City manager even before he had started his dual role. But last night, as England battled back from a 2-0 half-time deficit at Pride Park, Lita popped up to head in Curtis Davies’s centre 11 minutes from time on the ground where he had made a goalscoring debut at this level, against Holland, two years ago.

It was a draw that England deserved and a comeback in keeping with their manager’s combative character, although they must not stand off and admire the opposition as much as they did in the first half if they are to make an impression in the European Under-21 Championship finals in Holland in June.

“For 45 minutes the Spanish were outstanding,” Pearce said. “Their interchange of positions was excellent and we were very tentative. I said at half-time that hopefully a bloody nose now will stand us in good stead come the summer. We’ve been frightened of them in the first half in footballing terms and, to be fair, my players, as a group of people, have said, ‘We’re going to do something about this’.

“The tough times in football can stand you in better stead better than if we’d cakewalked a nice little friendly tonight and started talking about how we’re going to win the tournament in the summer.”

Pearce confirmed that Nigel Pearson, his assistant this week, will take charge of the team for their friendly against Italy next month. “I’ll have an involvement with squad selection,” Pearce said, “but with the kerfuffle with me taking this job, it probably makes sense for me to stay up in the stands.”

Pearce stuck with the formation that Steve McClaren is set to employ tonight in the senior match and the three-man midfield base offered David Bentley, in particular, licence to attack from out wide, but England soon fell on to the back foot in the first period.

Davies sustained a bloody nose in the fifth minute, banging into Antonio Adán, the Spain goalkeeper, and he required three shirts in the first half. Perhaps his injury contributed to England’s unsteady defending.

Ten minutes before half-time, Scott Carson, the goalkeeper, miscued a regulation clearance and then Davies hit the ball straight at Raul GarcÍa, who played in Roberto Soldado to round Carson to score. Then, in stoppage time, Nigel Reo-Coker lost possession in the centre circle and Soldado played in Antonio Barragán, who set up José Jurado to slot the ball last Carson.

Pearce responded by bringing on Theo Walcott and within five minutes England had produced the reaction their manager was seeking. Bentley’s swerving free kick was poorly cleared and David Nugent, taking one touch to bring the ball under control, half-volleyed his third international goal of the season.

With Kieran Richardson adding zest to midfield and Lita directness up front, England looked more sprightly going forward, although Francisco Xisco hit a post from 20 yards midway through the second period. GarcÍa also had a wonderful scissor-kick tipped over before Lita’s equaliser and Jurado ran clean through only to roll a shot wide. But England, having markedly increased the tempo in the second half, had shown enough resilience to earn a draw.

England Under-21 (4-5-1): S Carson (sub: J Hart, 83min) — J Hoyte, S Taylor, C Davies, A Taylor (sub: L Rosenior, 62) — D Bentley, J Milner (sub: L Lita, 62), T Huddlestone (sub: K Richardson, 51), N Reo-Coker, A Young (sub: T Walcott, 46) — D Nugent. Substitutes not used: G Cahill, B Alnwick, W Routledge.

Spain Under-21 (4-3-3): A Adán — A Barragán, Sergio Sánchez, M Torrejón, M Torres (sub: I Monreal, 60) — P León (sub: F Xisco, 60), Raul GarcÍa (sub: E Granero, 67), M Pallardó — R Soldado (sub: J Mata, 60), J Jurado, A Alfaro. Substitutes not used: R Jiménez, Mario. Referee: W Collum (Scotland).

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