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England fall short of handicap expectations

ENGLAND eased to victory in Gareth Southgate’s first match in charge after a 2-0 success over Malta in World Cup qualifying at Wembley but the Three Lions failed to live up to bookmakers’ expectations.

The result was not in doubt from the moment Daniel Sturridge, a 3-1 shot to score first, obliged for his backers with an excellent header on 29 minutes.

Dele Alli doubled England’s advantage before the break to put the 1-40 Three Lions in complete control.

However, the handicap had been set at four goals and the second-half blank was good news only for those who backed England to win 2-0 at 10-1.

The biggest downer for Southgate came with an early injury to Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand, who was replaced by first-choice left-back Danny Rose in the first half.

Rose himself had been rested because of a slight hamstring issue, but Gary Cahill, who had been a doubt for the game, was fine to start the qualifier.

Much tougher tests will come, starting with a trip to Slovenia on Tuesday and Southgate is 7-1 with bet365 to win his three remaining matches as caretaker boss with home matches against Scotland and Spain still to come this year.

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