England ease past Malta as Gareth Southgate makes unspectacular start

England got the Gareth Southgate era off to a solid if unspectacular start with a 2-0 win over Malta at Wembley.

Daniel Sturridge nodded in the opener from Jordan Henderson's cross for his 100th career goal before Dele Alli fired in a rebound to give the hosts a deserved interval lead.

England would have hoped to have put the off-the-field cloud of Sam Allardyce's demise behind them with more goals in the second period, but they failed to recapture the zest that saw Malta stopper, Andrew Hogg provide a one-man barrier early on.

Southgate will have been pleased with the senior bow he handed to Jesse Lingard but knows England will need to improve as they laboured for long spells in the second half.

England will now travel to Slovenia for the second of Southgate's four matches in charge with another success high on the agenda, as he bids to give the FA no option but to offer him the job full time.

It's been a tumultuous period for England but they got the job done where it matters most and that's on the pitch. It may have only been minnows, Malta but a comfortable victory is just the tonic to what has transpired in previous weeks, and gets Southgate's interim spell off on the right note. There will be tougher tests in his next three matches with Slovenia and Scotland tricky opponents in Group F prior to a home friendly with Spain on November 15. A sell-out crowd would have hoped to see more goals and that second half pretty much sums up England. At times they struggled to break down the defence of a poor side and still lack the spark and passion to truly inspire their supporters.

Jordan Henderson (England). The Liverpool midfielder has stepped back up a level this season and showed just what an accomplished player he can be when he's injury free and confident. Produced a series of delicious crosses with one leading to Sturridge's opening goal. He also had a hand in Alli's and impressed with his forward running and probing passing.

ENGLAND: Hart 6; Walker 7, Cahill 6, Stones 6, Bertrand 5; Henderson 8, Rooney 5, Lingard 7, Alli 7, Walcott 6; Sturridge 7... Subs: Rose 7, Rashford 8, Vardy 6.MALTA: Hogg 8, Sciberras 6, Agius 7, Borg 7, Fenech 6, Schembri 6, Camilleri 6, Kristensen 6, Effiong 6, Zach Muscat 5, Alex Muscat 5. Subs: Mifsud 6, Rowen Muscat n/a.

20' - ENGLAND CHANCE! Lingard lashes a first-time shot on the run wide of target after racing onto Henderson's raking pass from deep. Almost a wonderful start to his senior England career.

23' - ENGLAND CHANCE! Sturridge lashes over from a tight angle after Alli's header from Henderson's sumptuous cross was kept out by Andrew Hogg.

29' - GOAL! ENGLAND 1-0 MALTA. Henderson whips another sublime cross into the box for Sturridge to plant a well-placed header beyond the dive of Hogg.

34' - ENGLAND CHANCE! Sturridge almost turns provider as he picks out the run of Lingard with a clipped cross but the United forward sees his header saved. From the resulting corner it drops for Cahill eight yards out but the defender lashes a skewed effort wide.

38' - GOAL! ENGLAND 2-0 MALTA. Alli stabs home the rebound via the inadvertent foot of a defender after Hogg had saved his initial effort. Again, more decisive play from Henderson in the build up, bursting into the box and laying it off for Alli to strike.

64' - ENGLAND CHANCE! A rapid England break sees Alli flick to Lingard who slips it through for Walcott. The Arsenal man gets there but sees his shot from inside the area well blocked by the keeper.

81' - MALTA CHANCE! Joe Hart forced to make a save(!) as he keeps out Andre Agius' volley at the far post after a deep free kick had caught Alli out.

85' - ENGLAND CHANCE! Alli blazes wide at the far post after Rashford's low ball from the right put it on a plate for the Spurs man.

Daniel Sturridge scored his first goal at Wembley for England since May 2014.

Sturridge ended a run of six games without a goal for club & country, his longest scoreless run since May-Sept 2012.

England have won their last 14 qualifying matches for tournaments, and are unbeaten in their last 31 qualifiers (W24 D7).

Malta have lost their last six World Cup qualifiers, shipping 21 goals.