Summary

  • Harry Kane scores first goals of the season

  • Ryan Bertrand and Danny Welbeck also net for England

  • Gareth Southgate's side retain two-point lead in Group F

  • Josh Magennis scores twice for Northern Ireland

  • Steven Davis scores their third from the penalty spot

  • Northern Ireland remain second in Group C

  1. Postpublished at 22:10 British Summer Time 1 September 2017

    Three wins, and 10 goals scored. All in all a good night for the Home Nations.

    That's it from us, keep an eye on the website for all the reaction.

    Wales are in action tomorrow night, join us again then. Cheerio.

  2. What next?published at 22:05 British Summer Time 1 September 2017

    England host Slovakia at Wembley on Monday, 4 September while Scotland host Malta on the same night.

    Northern Ireland, meanwhile, are at home to Czech Republic, also on the Monday night.

  3. P63, W0, D2, L61 - San Marino's World Cup qualifying recordpublished at 22:04 British Summer Time 1 September 2017

    San Marino 0-3 Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland have won all four of their previous meetings with San Marino, scoring 14 unanswered goals in total.

    San Marino are yet to win a World Cup qualifying game (D2 L61).

    No player has been involved in more Northern Ireland goals than Steven Davis in 2018 World Cup qualifying (five – two goals, three assists).

  4. 'We have done the job'published at 22:01 British Summer Time 1 September 2017

    Malta 0-4 England

    England striker Harry Kane, who scored twice, speaking to ITV: "Whenever you come away for games like this it is never going to be easy. We were trying to break them down, they had 10 men behind the ball. We knew if we just kept moving it wide we would find the space.

    "The manager makes his choices, he puts the team out he thinks we will win the game and we won 4-0 so we have done the right job tonight."

    Harry KaneImage source, Reuters
  5. Get involved #bbcfootballpublished at 21:55 British Summer Time 1 September 2017

    Dennis Ethan: Easy peasy for England. What were people moaning about?

    Ben Dunbar: Have to feel for Malta, no way they deserved to lose that 4-0, bit of flat-track bullying from England towards the end

    Graham Parker: Cracks papered over, fine victory over mighty Malta, good old Gareth. We won't get out of the group again in the finals.

  6. 'What Steven Davis says, goes'published at 21:54 British Summer Time 1 September 2017

    San Marino 0-3 Northern Ireland

    NI's two-goal scorer Josh Magennis to Sky Sports: "It was tricky actually. It was always good to score and win."

    "Of course I asked for the penalty. What Steven Davis says, goes. It would have been nice to get my first senior hat-trick but I can't argue," he said with a smile on his face.

    Northern IrelandImage source, PA
  7. Magennis wanted penalty - Davispublished at 21:52 British Summer Time 1 September 2017

    San Marino 0-3 Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis to Sky Sports: "Patience was key. We couldn't find a breakthrough in the first half, but it was important to keep doing the right things. Don't start getting frustrated and going long too early.

    "The pitch was difficult at times. They defended for their lives and the keeper made some good saves, it was comfortable in the end."

    The midfielder revealed that Josh Magennis - who had scored twice - wanted to take the penalty for his hat-trick.

    Davis, who scored the kick, said: "He was desperate for the penalty with the hat-trick. I politely told him to go away."

  8. Postpublished at 21:48 British Summer Time 1 September 2017

    .Image source, .

    This is how things look in Group F. England stay top, two points ahead of Slovakia, who beat Slovenia 1-0.

    Scotland are up to third after beating Lithuania 3-0.

  9. 'Room to improve'published at 21:46 British Summer Time 1 September 2017

    Malta 0-4 England

    England captain Jordan Henderson, speaking to ITV: "We didn't have that many clear cut chances, we knew at half-time we had to keep going and we would break them down eventually. Dele Alli kept his composure to give it to Harry and when he is one-on-one he scores.

    "There are positives to come out of it but plenty of room to improve it as well."

  10. The lay of the land in Group Cpublished at 21:46 British Summer Time 1 September 2017

    .Image source, .

    As you can see Northern Ireland are in great shape in Group C. A draw (or a win) against the Czechs on Monday would guarantee them second spot.

  11. Postpublished at 21:41 British Summer Time 1 September 2017

    Lithuania 0-3 Scotland

    It is all over in Lithuania. Scotland run out comfortable 3-0 winners, but their joy is somewhat dampened by a late goal for Slovakia to give them victory over Slovenia.

    Reaction to the Scotland game is here.

    ScotlandImage source, Reuters
  12. Postpublished at 21:40 British Summer Time 1 September 2017

    Huge results for Northern Ireland elsewhere confirm that they will guarantee second place (at least) if they beat the Czech Republic at Windsor Park on Monday. Actually a draw and they've done it.

    Eight of the nine teams to finish second in their groups reach the play-offs. The worst of the runners-up crash out - at the moment NI would be fine.

  13. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:37 British Summer Time 1 September 2017

    Malta 0-4 England

    All over and England and get the win to stay top of Group F.

    Three goals in the final six minutes added a bit of polish to the scoreline, but it definitely was not a game that will live long in the memory.

  14. goal

    GOAL - Malta 0-4 Englandpublished at 21:35 British Summer Time 1 September 2017

    Harry Kane (90+3 mins)

    Well then!

    Where's this come from? Marcus Rashford spots a great run by Harry Kane and picks out the Tottenham striker, who smashes in from close range.

    Malta players appear unhappy. It looks like Rashford was being urged to put the ball out of play before for an injured player before crossing

    Harry KaneImage source, Getty Images
  15. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:35 British Summer Time 1 September 2017

    San Marino 0-3 Northern Ireland

    It's all over. The breakthrough took a lot longer than we expected, but in the end it was comfortable. Sort of.

  16. Postpublished at 21:34 British Summer Time 1 September 2017

    San Marino 0-3 Northern Ireland

    Chris Brunt fires an effort well over. The ref puts the whistle to his mouth but then changes his mind.

  17. goal

    GOAL - Malta 0-3 Englandpublished at 21:33 British Summer Time 1 September 2017

    Danny Welbeck (90 mins)

    The scoreline looks much better for England now as Danny Welbeck marks his international return with a goal.

    Harry Kane plays in a peach of a cross from the right and Welbeck flicks it over the advancing keeper and into the net.

    Danny WelbeckImage source, Getty Images
  18. INJURY TIMEpublished at 21:33 British Summer Time 1 September 2017

    San Marino 0-3 Northern Ireland

    We're into three minutes of added time. Blow the whistle ref.

  19. Elsewhere in Europepublished at 21:32 British Summer Time 1 September 2017

    San Marino 0-3 Northern Ireland

    Mats Hummels has just put Germany 2-1 up in the Czech Republic with two minutes left. And Norway now lead Azerbaijan 2-0.

    What those results mean (if they stay the same) is that a win over the Czechs on Monday would guarantee Northern Ireland a top-two place in the group.

    GermanyImage source, Getty Images
  20. Postpublished at 21:31 British Summer Time 1 September 2017

    Malta 0-2 England

    Considering that was Ryan Bertrand's first goal for England, he barely celebrated.

    Too bored to celebrate with gusto?