Bent prodded home an Ashley Young cross from six yards out to give England a 2-0 lead.
That doubled the advantage which had been secured by former Villa hero Young.
England's path to Poland and Ukraine looked to be a smooth one but their final qualifier in the hostile surroundings of Podgorica City Stadium didn't go totally according to plan.
Elsad Zverotic gave Montenegro hope with a goal with the last kick of the first half - and then Wayne Rooney was dismissed by referee Wolfgang Stark for kicking out at Miodrag Dzudovic.
England were placed under pressure they could not survive. Just as the clash entered stoppage time Dzudovic crossed for Andrija Delibasic to head in at the far post for a goal that gave Montenegro the point that puts them into next month's qualifying play-offs.
Despite the disappointing end, Fabio Capello's men qualify top of Group G.
Shay Given enjoyed yet another shut-out as Republic of Ireland beat Andorra away in Group B.
Goals from Kevin Doyle and Aiden McGeady secured the maximum haul for Giovanni Trapattoni's men in a game Richard Dunne was suspended for.
However, Russia's 1-0 win away to Slovakia means Dick Advocaat's side only need a draw with Andorra on Tuesday to secure their spot in the final ahead of the Republic of Ireland.
Eire face Armenia in Dublin on Tuesday.
Goals by debutante Yevhen Selin, veteran Andriy Shevchenko and Andriy Yarmolenko gave Ukraine a 3-0 win over Bulgaria in a friendly.
Stiliyan Petrov played the full 90 minutes in Kiev.
Petrov now faces Wales in Sofia on Tuesday in Euro 2012 qualifying.
Barry Bannan and Alan Hutton will be eager to help Scotland to a win away at Liechtenstein this evening in Vaduz.
Scotland are third in Group I, two points behind second-placed Czech Republic with a game in hand and ten points behind leaders Spain.
After tonight, they face the rampant Spanish in Alicante on Tuesday.
Click here to pick up tickets for the West Brom clash.
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