England-Malta was always going to be a mismatch but the Maltese team produced a gallant performance at Wembley Stadium to restrict their superior opponents to just two goals.

Daniel Sturridge and Dele Alli struck in the first half to give England a richly-deserved win over Malta who showed admirable commitment and fighting spirit throughout this generally one-sided 2018 World Cup qualifier but the technical chasm between the two teams was simply too big.

A 2-0 home victory over the Group F minnows will not have excited the England fans after a turbulent period caused by Sam Allardyce's sacking but the hosts were just pleased to get another three points on board in Gareth Southgate's first match in charge.

England dominated the game from start to finish but it speaks volumes of Malta's determination that they were unable to add to their two first-half goals, albeit they were denied by a string of fine saves from goalkeeper Andrew Hogg.

Acknowledging the difficult task Pietro Ghedin's team faced in front of over 81,000 fans, the Maltese supporters never stopped backing our players and their ovation at the end of the game highlighted their satisfaction at the team's gritty performance.

READ: The fans roaring Malta on at Wembley

Ghedin made four changes from the 5-1 defeat to Scotland. Two of these were forced on the Malta coach by the suspension of defender Jonathan Caruana, who was replaced by Zach Muscat, and winger Luke Gambin whose place was taken by Bjorn Kristensen.

Defender Ryan Camilleri and wing-back Alex Muscat were also drafted into the team at the expense of Ryan Scicluna and Joseph Zerafa.

The tactical approach was 5-3-2 with captain Andrè Schembri probing behind lone striker Alfred Effiong.

Gareth Southgate, England's interim manager, kept faith with Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney, who was deployed as a holding midfielder, but handed a debut to Jesse Lingard, also of United, on the left while Ryan Bertrand started on the left flank, albeit his participation was curtailed by injury after just 18 minutes.

England took a while to get going but their optimism rose when Kristensen brought down Dele Alli outside the box. Rooney took the free-kick but his drive was blocked by Zach Muscat.

There was an even better opportunity for England when Theo Walcott's incursion into the box troubled the Malta defence. The ball was deflected towards the unmarked Rooney who hit a swerving shot that looked destined to hit the back of the net but Andrew Hogg leapt to the right to push away the England captain's effort England seized control..

A superb pass from Jordan Henderson caught the Malta defence unawares as Lingard dashed into the box only to send his shot over the bar.

Hogg made another tremendous save, this time from Alli's close-range header after another inviting cross from Henderson.

Henderson's crosses into the box remained England's most dangerous weapon and so it proved on 28 minutes.

Theo Walcott cut the ball back for Henderson whose cross soared into the box and Sturridge aimed a downward header into the bottom corner.

It was one-way traffic now, Hogg denying England again with another close-range save from Lingard's header after the United winger had got on the end of Sturridge's cross.

Rooney's cross, from the resulting corner, caused panic in the box but Gary Cahill dragged his shot wide.

England extended their lead seven minutes from half-time, Alli firing home with his second attempt after his initial strike had been parried away by Hogg with the Maltese defence having failed to stop Henderson's run into the box.

The pattern of the game remained the same after half-time with England dominant.

Seven minutes into the second half, Hogg fisted away Rooney's swirling cross-shot from a free-kick.

England stayed in command.

A brilliant move had the Maltese team in a state of disarray as Lingard, served by Alli's intelligent backheel, strode forward before slipping a through-ball to Walcott but out came Hogg to thwart the England winger.

That was Walcott's latest contribution as he was substituted by Marcus Rashford.
Lingard was fractionally wide after being set up by Rooney whose quickly taken free-kick had surprised Malta.

With 14 minutes remaining, Ghedin made his first change, bringing on Michael Mifsud, the country's record goal scorer, for Effiong.

Malta finally created a scoring chance 10 minutes from time. They were given a foul for Cahill's foul on Mifsud and Fenech's set-piece cross flew towards the far post where Andrei Agius arrowed a first-time shot that was parried away for a corner by the erstwhile untested Joe Hart.

The hosts missed an even better chance, Alli blasting high from close in after being picked out by Rashford.

 

England
Joe Hart, Kyle Walker, Ryan Bertrand (19 D. Rose), Jordan Henderson, Gary Cahill, John Stones, Theo Walcott (68 M. Rashford), Dele Alli, Daniel Sturridge (74 J. Vardy), Wayne Rooney, Jesse Lingard.

Malta
Andrew Hogg, Gareth Sciberras, Andrei Agius, Steve Borg, Paul Fenech, Andrè Schembri (85 R. Muscat), Ryan Camilleri, Bjorn Kristensen, Alfred Effiong (76 M. Mifsud), Zach Muscat, Alex Muscat.

Referee Stefan Johannesson.