Match Summary

England Team

Malta Team

Who would have thought that I would be writing this report, with yet another new manager in charge of the team? Gareth Southgate's first match as interim manager was pretty much a foregone conclusion, result wise, with the visit to Wembley of Malta, another of the minnows of World football. However, as has been proved many times before, no matter what type of opposition you face, you still have to earn the right to the three points. England did that, but not with any real conviction.

When games are this easy for players at the top level, there is a tendency to go into a lackadaisical mode, and that is what happened here with quite a few of the team not really 'busting a gut' so to speak.

The pattern of the match was soon clear to see as England dominated possession, trying to find a way past a bank of four and a bank of five.  Malta were organised and disciplined and frustrated the crowd and the England players.  It was not a question of whether England would score, more a case of when they would.  It took seven minutes for a goal attempt, when Wayne Rooney's free-kick was charged down, but the ball was soon back and after it was laid back to the England skipper he fired in another effort from just outside the box and only a fine save by goalkeeper Andrew Hogg prevented a goal.  It was not to be the last time the keeper would save his side.

Kyle Walker and Ryan Bertrand were trying to make headway around the wings of the defence and both put in good crosses.  On 12 minutes Bertrand's cross was patted out to Jesse Lingard, but the Manchester United striker scuffed his goal attempt wide.  Daniel Sturridge then twisted and turned in the box, but his eventual shot was weak and easily saved.  England then suffered a blow as Bertrand had to go off with a hamstring problem, and on came Danny Rose to replace him.  Immediately Rose was in the action and he fired in a cross from the left, which was cleared.  Lindgard then made a fine run to meet Jordan Henderson's pass, but scuffed his shot when well placed.  It was certainly England's best chance so far.

Just three minutes later Henderson put in another fine cross, met sweetly by the head of Deli Alli.  A goal looked certain but somehow Hogg managed to get a hand to it and save. en then the ball dropped to Sturridge, for what appeared to be a simple tap-in.  Unfortunately, Sturridge somehow contrived to blaze the ball way over the bar.

At this point it was virtually total possession for England and one-way traffic towards the Malta goal and their eleven man defence.  Chances were beginning to come more often, with Rooney playing a lynchpin role, spreading the play from side to side with ease, although not too many passes went forward, into the danger area.  But, at last, on 29 minutes, England finally had their breakthrough.  Another lovely ball in from the lively Henderson found Sturridge on the edge of the Malta box.  This time the header was perfect as he guided a lovely effort just inside the far post with Hogg beaten at last.

Four minutes later Lindgard had another attempt and was actually unlucky to see his header hit the knee of the keeper and squirm just wide of the post.  Credit Hogg though, for spreading himself well.

The pressure was intense now as England had upped the pace and were starting to create some gaps.  With 38 minutes gone a welcome second goal came along, and once again Henderson was heavily involved.  The midfield player burst onto a loose ball, powered into the box and flicked the ball to Alli.  The Tottenham player's first attempt was blocked by Hogg, but Alli followed up and prodded home with his second attempt.

As the half wound down, Sturridge again forced a good save from Hogg, and then headed another chance into the keeper's hands.  England were playing some good football and the extra pace to their game had brought their reward.  Only Hogg had been between England and a rout, but everyone left the field at the break thinking that the same again would bring even greater dividends.  Unfortunately, as soon as the second-half began England fell back into that lackadaisical mode that I mentioned.  The build-up play was slow and lacked the intensity of earlier, and some of the players just went through the motions a little, knowing that the points were safe.

What was a little disconcerting was that England rarely fashioned a decent chance in the half, and Malta were able to easily soak up the attacks.  Southgate tried a couple of substitutions, replacing the ineffectual Theo Walcott with Marcus Rashford, and then switching Sturridge for Jamie Vardy.  But things did not noticeably improve, although it must be said that England were in total control.  Credit to Malta, who worked incredibly hard, and indeed, on 80 minutes, they forced a save from Joe Hart at his near post.  That would have been just a tad embarrassing, had we conceded a goal, but England coasted to the end.  Rooney did force another good save from Hogg with a free-kick and Alli should have scored his second when Rashford's cross reached him at the far post, only for Alli to blaze his shot over the bar from close range.

After all that had gone on before the game, Southgate will be glad of a match like this to get him off and running.  There were a few positives to take from the performance, but the hard graft will start in a few days time when we travel to Slovenia for our third group match in this qualification tournament.  We go into the game with plenty of confidence though and everyone will be aware as to what will be expected of them.
   

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Mike Payne - football historian and contributor