[monks data]

Attendance: 81,718

World Cup Qualifying - Europe | Group Stage

Oct 8, 2016 at 5pm UK

England
2-0
Malta

Sturridge (29'), Alli (38')

FT(HT: 2-0)

Gareth Southgate wants "brave" performance from England players

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 08 October 2016

Gareth Southgate is desperate to leave supporters 'excited' come full time in England's World Cup qualifier with minnows Malta at Wembley Stadium this evening.

Interim England boss Gareth Southgate has called on his players to produce a "brave" performance against Malta to leave supporters entertained.

The Three Lions will take on the minnows in front of around 85,000 people at Wembley on Saturday, aiming to make it two wins from two in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

Against opponents ranked at 176 in the world, Southgate is keen to lay down a marker ahead of tougher tests to come during his initial four-game stint in charge of the national side.

"I think [stamping your authority] takes time, for sure," he told reporters. "But I think the players are getting an understanding of my beliefs on how I want an England team to play, and I think that is one of the most important messages for me to get across. I want them to be brave, I want them to excite the supporters.

"We followed that through with the junior teams right the way through and I think that's one of the most important messages, from my point of view, any England team that goes out, I want to see them play with style. Of course, winning is the ultimate, but that will be a consequence of the performance and the way we go about our work every day."

England beat Slovakia 1-0 in their opening qualifying fixture, which proved to be Sam Allardyce's only game in charge before being given the shove due to corruption claims.