England toil hard in win over Malta

Sep 2, 2017 - 3:58 AM Unhappy England fans chanted for Wayne Rooney and directed foul-mouthed chants at their team as the team full of Premier League stars struggled to a 4-0 win over minnows Malta.

Manager Gareth Southgate said he understood fans' frustrations but pointed out that "free-flowing champagne football" was never likely.

The win on Friday in Valetta keeps England's two-point cushion at the top of Group F intact ahead of Monday's clash with second-placed Slovakia.

Southgate's men will need to up their game at Wembley after putting in a largely-underwhelming display against the side ranked joint 190th in the world.

Harry Kane's second-half strike was followed by a late flurry of goals as Ryan Bertrand and Danny Welbeck scored before Kane wrapped things up with a second goal against a Malta side who made life particularly tough for the visitors.

England's lack of inspiration and verve led many of the 3,700 travelling fans to chant "we're f***** shit", before a smattering of boos greeted the half-time whistle.

"Look, I think we have to accept that," Southgate said of that disquiet.

"I've played in nights like this and I've watched England on nights like this, and if you don't get a couple of early goals the atmosphere can turn.

"But that's part of wearing the shirt, we've got to be able to deal with that.

"I understand all of the reaction that we'll get, but we have to stay focused as a group and Monday's game will be completely different."

Put to Southgate it is very rare for England supporters to turn on their team in such a way, he said: "Well, I've seen it happen.

"From our point of view, we have to focus on sticking to the plan, staying calm.

"I understand why (it happened) and I understand if we don't score until late, the game feels different for everybody."

Source: AAP