England 2-0 Malta: Sturridge and Alli give Southgate opening win

Well that brings an end to our live coverage to Wembley. I'm off to hear from Gareth Southgate and see how he saw his first match in charge of England. We'll be back with all the reaction from Wembley ahead of the second game at Slovenia on Tuesday. Keep an eye out for that but until then it's goodbye.

Full time: England 2-0 Malta

That will do for Gareth Southgate, who begins his England tenure with a win. Finishing let the home side down but Daniel Sturridge and Dele Alli did find the target to make it two wins from two in World Cup qualifying. It was far from convincing, but it's a start ahead of Slovenia on Tuesday.

England being booed and jeered by their own fans, as they attempt to see out this game without showing any ambition whatsoever. Two added minutes, mercilessly.

Into the final five minutes at Wembley. Is two enough for Gareth Southgate? It has been an impressive display, but England's finishing has prevented Malta being subjected to a real hammering.

What a miss by Dele Alli! Rashford finds himself all along on the right and his cross is turned over by Alli from all of seven yards. Almost harder to miss the target.

Joe Hart with his first touch of the half and he keeps out Andrei Agius' back-post volley, beating the ball away with his chest. By a long, long way Malta's best chance of the game.

The home team have now begun crossing the ball aimlessly into the penalty area, with Malta merely heading the ball away at will. All very easy for them as we enter the final 10 minutes.

That attendance by the way, 81,781. Not bad, given that we're two months into the club season. Good work from those who have showed up.

Malta make a change as Michael Mifsud, of Coventry and Barnsley fame, replacing Alfred Effiong.

Jamie Vardy on for England and Daniel Sturridge, who opened the scoring, comes on.

Meanwhile, the modern age in which we live in sees fans attempting to light-up Wembley with their smart phones, as the game descends into a training game. It is certainly preferable to a Mexican wave.

Walcott off and Rashford on, to make his Wembley England debut - for what it is worth.

Gareth Southgate has been a vocal presence on the touchline throughout his first game in charge.

Marcus Rashford being readied by Gareth Southgate. But where will he be playing?

Wonderful move from England carves Malta wide-open. Dele Alli's flick sets Lingard free, he plays a delightful inside pass for the onrushing Walcott who is denied by Hogg. Malta cut to ribbons.

England in complete control here but they continue to struggle with a final ball in the last third. Kyle Walker twice has chances to cross on the right but they come to nothing on both occasions. His deliveries have not been good enough, frankly.

I have just been reminded that Theo Walcott is playing for England this evening, but you wouldn't know it. The Arsenal man has been completely anonymous on the right-hand side of the attack. Marcus Rashford patiently waiting for his opportunity.

Rooney denied by Hogg for the second time this afternoon, as his free-kick is turned over the bar. Hogg was born in Kingston, a stone's throw from where I grew up in fact, and currently represents Hibernians. I can assure you I would not have turned the bal away with such aplomb.

Lots of gaps in club England, or whatever they call it these days. The sponsors and corporates have not been tempted into this Saturday tea-time extravaganza. Those that have still taking their seats after half-time.

Rooney's ball is headed behind by a Malta defender, Agius on this occasion. The corner comes to nothing however.

Second half underway at Wembley. Danny Rose continues to stretch out those hamstrings but he does win England a free-kick on the left in a dangerous position.

Danny Rose having what looks a lot like a fitness test at half time. He had been stretching out his hamstrings after coming on at half time, and didn't start the game due to concerns over his fitness.

The half-time entertainment at Wembley consists of fans taking shots at a goal covered in targets. None of them quite make it however.

On a slightly lighter note, several members of Team GB's Olympic and Paralympic medal winners have just been announced to the crowd at Wembley. They get the ovation they very much deserve.

Half time: England 2-0 Malta

Job-all but done for Gareth Southgate, who is on course for a win in his first game as England manager. Daniel Sturridge and Dele Alli have done the damage, but Jordan Henderson has been the stand-out figure of the half with assists for both goals. The only setback has been the injury to Ryan Bertrand who went off after 18 minutes. Malta have lacked resilience and could be put to the sword in the second half.

Sturridge again giving Malta trouble and his latest effort is blocked behind for another corner. It's played short and Rooney hits his pass out of play. Two minutes added on at Wembley.

Sturridge goes though but when he should square it he tries to beat Hogg from a tight angle, and sees his effort kept out. Now the Liverpool heads Kyle Walker's cross goalwards, but Hogg is there again.

Goal: England 2-0 Malta (Dele Alli)

The lead is doubled with a very nicely worked goal. Jordan Henderson drives into the box after being found by Alli. He finds the Tottenham man in the box and though Hogg beats the ball away, Alli converts from the follow-up.

Malta made England fight for the lead before Sturridge's opener.

Two further chances for the hosts and crosses continue to be the best source. First, Lingard steals in at the back post and is denied by Hogg, before the subsequent Rooney corner isn't cleared by Gary Cahill makes a hash of his shot but he totally miss-hits it.

Goal: England 1-0 Malta (Daniel Sturridge)

The deadlock broken on the half hour and it comes in rather innocuous circumstances. Jordan Henderson has all the time in the world to cross and Daniel Sturridge heads across goal but Hogg can't get across and Gareth Southgate has his first goal as England boss.

Wayne Rooney is a lucky man after leaving his foot in on Malta captain Andre Schembri. The referee didn't even see the incident, but the opposition skipper needs treatment but it looks like he'll be ok to continue.

Best chance so far for England. Dele Allis header is kept out by Hogg and on the rebound Sturridge blasts the ball high and wide from a tight angle. Two decent opportunities there.

After no cover was called up for Phil Jagielka, who withdrew from the squad earlier this week I would expect the injury to Ryan Bertrand to be enough for Southgate to call-up defensive cover.

Early change for England on the way, as Ryan Bertrand goes down with a hamstring problem. Danny Rose being prepped and after just 18 minutes the Southampton's full-back's chance to impress ends.

Story of the game so far.

It has gone forgotten amid all the off-the-field controversy, but this is England's first home game since their exit from Euro 2016. The disappointment from the loss to Iceland has been largely forgotten however, and it must be said there is a relaxed, even carnival feel to the atmosphere.

Jesse Lingard has scored some fine goals on this ground but this won't be one of his finer moment, as he hammers the ball miles off target after Bertrand's cross is only half-cleared.

Wayne Rooney has already given the ball away twice in this deep-lying creative role he has been given. But we see the threat he still possesses in forward areas as he forces Andrew Hogg into a sprawling save to his right.

Wembley nearly sold out for Gareth Southgate's England bow.

Free-kick for England around 25 yards from goal after a foul by Kristensen. Alli was felled but he is passed up for tis set-piece, with Wayne Rooney taking centre-stage. The Manchester United man strikes it, and the wall does its job.

Early update to tell you is that Wayne Rooney is indeed playing in a holding midfield role alongside Jordan Henderson, with Dele Alli starting in behind Daniel Sturridge.

Malta threaten early on but when the ball comes the way of Effiong England snuff out the danger in the form of John Stones. Much of the possession, as you might expect, with the home side.

Underway at Wembley. England's second qualifying game, their second manger of their group stage and what is expected to be a second victory. Can Malta upset Southgate's big day?

The players are on the outfield at Wembley. We've had the anthems and we're almost ready to go. Gareth Southgate's England tenure about to get underway.

English-based Malta international Luke Gambin is suspended for today's game at Wembley, but there is something for him to celebrate this afternoon having netted the equaliser for club side Barnet at Doncaster Rovers. A nice moment.

Wayne Rooney booed by sections of the Wembley crowd upon being announced in the England team. Interesting. Dele Alli gets the biggest cheer of approval, closing followed by Jamie Vardy and Marcus Rashford.

Plenty of schools, local teams and families helping to fill out Wembley this afternoon. Will we get to the suggested 85,000? Probably.

England warning up at Wembley and if there is any intrigue before this game, it once again revolves around which position Wayne Rooney will find himself in today. Handed the number 10 shirt, the suggestion initially is that he will play directly behind frontman Daniel Sturridge.

But after his display against Manchester City last week, there is no doubt the country is crying out for Dele Alli to be given the chance in the 10 position, a move which could see Rooney move into a deep-lying role or even back on the bench. Though I would not expect Gareth Southgate to be quite so bold.

For those interested, here is the visitors' team. It does not include the former Coventry forward Michael Mifsud, who is the ripe old age of 35 these days. Only seems like yesterday he was ripping Manchester United apart.

Malta: Hogg, Camilleri, Agius,A.Muscat, Z.Muscat, Borg, Fenech, Sciberras, Kristensen, Effiong, Schembri.

A quick image search brings up a picture of, among other, tennis player Victoria Azarenka. Let's nip this in the bud now, shall we?

Pre-match entertainment at Wembley has sunk to new lows. Kisscam and bongocam has been replaced by something called DABcam. I might need explaining what on earth this new phenomena is.

Such is the standing of the England football team among the nation's media, there is little or no excitement among the press park ahead of Gareth Southgate's bow as manager.

Nevertheless, Wembley will be almost sold out this afternoon with 85,000 expected to pack into the home of English football. Goodness knows why.

The NFL rolled into town for the first of three matches across the pond this month, last weekend, but I can confirm that the Jacksonville Jaguars tunnel decoration has been removed. The NFL logo remains in the middle of the pitch however.

England vs Malta is one of a raft of matches of World Cup qualifiers taking place this afternoon. Of the eight other games there are some glittering fixtures such as Serbia vs Austria, Ukraine vs Kosovo and Iceland vs Turkey.

I can't guarentee up to the minute goal updates as the evening progresses, but if any excitement does break out I'll keep you abreast.

Gareth Southgate has four matches to impress sufficiently to earn consideration to take over the England senior team on a permanent basis - and he can't have wished for an easier game to ease him into the breach.

Malta have won two competitive matches since 1993 and have not won any of their last 11 games, stretching back to June 2015. Last time out the team ranked 176th in Fifa's world rankings lost 5-1 to Scotland.

With Slovenia, Scotland and Spain to follow in Southgate's rein, this is a nice way for his tenure to start.

So as reported, Jesse Lingard makes his England debut for the visit of Malta. Daniel Sturridge begins in the centre of the attack, with Wayne Rooney given the number 10 shirt - indicating he will play behind the Liverpool striker.

Gareth Southgate's first team confirmed.

We're expected to get confirmation of the England team around an hour before kick-off, but early reports are suggesting that Jesse Lingard will start while Daniel Sturridge has been selected ahead of Marcus Rashford. Gareth Southgate's first team as England boss should be confirmed in around 20 minutes.

England arrive at Wembley ahead of the 5pm kick-off.

When Roy Hodgson resigned as England manager 103 days ago, following the defeat to Iceland which sent his team spiralling out of the European Championships, few could have predicted the trend of events it would set in motion.

Sam Allardyce has come and gone, Wayne Rooney somehow remains both as captain and talisman and now Gareth Southgate has been given the reins for the next four matches in anticipation of another change before the New Year.

Just another day at the office in the life of the England national team.