Bulgaria have recorded a slender 1-0 half-time lead at home to Malta in Euro 2016 qualifying tonight.

Some six minutes had elapsed before the hosts edged ahead, with Livorno striker Andrey Galabinov stabbing past goalkeeper Andrew Hogg after latching on to Mihail Alexandrov's header.

Despite threatening a rout by scoring so early, Bulgaria struggled to build on that advantage, but it was not for the lack of trying as Galabinov struck the crossbar on 26 minutes.

Malta looked dangerous on the counter-attack at times, but only had the one shot on target to show for their first-half labours.