England have made it two wins from two in their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-0 victory over Malta in interim manager Gareth Southgate's first game in charge.
Daniel Sturridge and Dele Alli got the goals at Wembley in England's first match since Sam Allardyce was forced to step down just 67 days into his reign, but the Three Lions failed to add to their advantage after the 38th minute.
The latest new start for England was reflected in the team selection as Southgate handed a debut to Jesse Lingard, and they quickly set about looking to put a turbulent spell behind them by dominating possession early on.
Captain Wayne Rooney - once again selected in a midfield role - was the first to have a sight of goal for the hosts when he fired a curling strike in from just outside the area, but Andrew Hogg in the Malta goal athletically parried it away.
Clear chances were few and far between for England in the early stages, though, and Sturridge in particular found himself having to drop deep or drift out wide to get involved, with the Liverpool striker's sole effort in the opening 20 minutes resulting in a comfortable stop for the Malta keeper.
England did pick up the tempo after the 20-minute mark, though, with Jordan Henderson leading the way as he picked out Lingard with a defence-splitting pass which the United man could not steer home when attempting a difficult first-time half-volley.
Southgate's side should have taken the lead midway through the half when Henderson curled a pinpoint cross into the middle for Alli to nod goalwards, but Hogg made a fine stop from close range before Sturridge somehow blazed a wild rebound off target from a difficult angle with the goal gaping.
Sturridge made up for that miss shortly before the half-hour mark, though, breaking the deadlock with a precise header into the bottom corner after being picked out by Liverpool teammate Henderson.
Sturridge turned provider four minutes later with a clever ball over the top to find Lingard, but he once again squandered the chance to mark his debut with a goal as Hogg pulled off a fine stop to deny him from close range.
The resulting corner created yet another chance as England pushed on for a second goal, but Gary Cahill sliced his volley wide after the ball had fallen kindly to him inside the area.
The hosts did double their advantage with seven minutes remaining in the first half, though, as Henderson exchanged passes with Sturridge before picking out Alli, who saw his first effort saved before reacting quickest to poke the rebound home.
It could have been even more comfortable for England at half time had Sturridge snapped up one of two chances in quick succession, but he was first denied by Hogg from a tight angle before steering a header from Kyle Walker's cross straight at the keeper.
The chances dried up in the second half, with the only test for Hogg before the hour mark coming from an ambitious Rooney free kick that needed to be turned over the crossbar.
The first clear opening of the half came 20 minutes in when Lingard burst forward before sliding a pass through for Theo Walcott, but not for the first time Hogg came to his side's rescue with a smart save to deny the in-form Arsenal winger.
Lingard then flashed an effort wide having been found by a quick free kick from Rooney before Malta finally registered their first - and only - shot of the game in the 81st minute. Michael Mifsud, winning his 120th cap to move within two of the all-time record for Malta, won a free kick that was floated to Andrei Arius, but his well-struck volley was turned around the post by Joe Hart.
England did finally create another good chance to add a third goal with five minutes remaining when Marcus Rashford drilled a low ball into the box, but Alli couldn't keep his effort down with the goal gaping.
Ultimately the hosts were forced to settle for a comfortable two-goal victory, extending their unbeaten record in qualifying to 31 games ahead of their trip to face Slovenia on Tuesday.
The victory takes England top of Group F for a few hours at least, while Malta remain pointless having extended their winless run to 16 qualifying matches.
Barney Corkhill
