There's some ropey first touches going on here, Raheem Sterling the main culprit, but the Manchester City man gets lucky when his attempt to control a pass sees the ball run through to an overlapping Ryan Bertrand. The Southampton full-back has an age to pick a cross but ends up putting the ball on the head of a Malta player and once again the attack fizzles out.

Ten minutes to go until half-time.

Everything is a coming up Scotland! The visitors have doubled their lead in Lithuania. Andy Robertson - now of Liverpool - clips a superb effort into the top corner to put Gordan Strachan's men firmly in control.

As before, you can follow live text commentary of the game here.

Image source, Reuters

Josh Magennis' shot is saved by Aldo Simoncini and the rebound hits a defender and goes out for a corner.

Conor Washington shoots as Jonny Evans heads the corner down and the keeper makes an excellent reaction save. Washington hooks the rebound - which he probably wasn't expecting - wide.

Gary Flintoff
BBC Radio 5 live in Malta

The Malta fans have just booed the England fans for not taking part in their Mexican wave. It may take an England goal or two before they get involved.

On that front, the big scoreboard tells only part of the story. There have been no goals, but England have already created enough chances to win two games.

Any Northern Ireland fans starting to worry a bit? We are 34 minutes in. Let us know using #bbcfootball on Twitter.

Andrei Agius heads clear Jordan Henderson's ball into the area. England pick up the ball and attack again but Dele Alli's ball is deflected behind for a corner which, once again, is cleared.

England making hard work of this.

Can we all just marvel at Juri Biordi's beard for a minute? Top work from the San Marino defender.

Juri Biordi? More like Juri Beardi. Am I right?

Image source, Reuters

Not much of an atmosphere to speak of. The only thing preventing me from hearing individual conversations is the England band. Doesn't drown out Malta midfielder Bjorn Kristensen's screams as he rolls around the floor after a challenge by Harry Kane.

Scotland are on the board. Gordon Strachan's side have taken the lead in Lithuania. Stuart Armstrong has the goal, heading in from a corner in the 24th minute.

For live text commentary of that game, click here.

Image source, Getty Images

Another Steven Davis effort, this time he heads Josh Magennis' cross wide. That's their seventh shot, none on target yet. We are 28 minutes into the game.

Dele Alli wipes his brow, sweat pouring off him. It's 27C at the moment and the heat is definitely having an impact on the quality of football on show.

Northern Ireland have two big chances but can't take either. Kyle Lafferty goes round the keeper but he's too wide an angle and nobody can turn his cross home. Then Davide Simoncini pulls off a good block to deflect over Steven Davis' close-range shot.

This game is taking place on a hybrid grass pitch, synthetic fibres mixed with natural turf, and the ball fair flies along it. So do the tackles, though. Can't see it being too long before we see someone going in the book.

Oof. San Marino's Marco Bernardi is lucky to avoid a yellow card for a bad foul on Jonny Evans.

Another corner for Northern Ireland but Conor McLaughlin's header at the back post isn't on target. In fact it just goes up in the air and San Marino clear.

England have the ball in the back of the net. Jordan Henderson zips in a corner and Phil Jones gets his head onto to it but before the ball even nestles in the back of the goal the referee blows for a foul on the keeper.

Twenty minutes gone and England are in control. Could do with a goal, though.

Image source, Getty Images

Matt Wilkinson: Watching England tonight maybe as frustrating as watching transfer deadline day last night as a Liverpool fan. COME ON!!!!

Christopher David: Apart from Rodgers, Guardiola and Southgate, has anyone else ever thought that Sterling was a decent footballer?!

Good play by Oliver Norwood down the left to get a cross in when it looked like the ball was going out of play. It goes past Kyle Lafferty and Josh Magennis hooks the ball over the bar. No shots on target yet.

Northern Ireland have a third corner as Stuart Dallas plays a one-two with Oliver Norwood and his cross is well blocked. Chris Brunt's corner finds Josh Magennis, who heads wide from six yards out. Poor from the Charlton striker.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is looking very bright on the right flank - a lot of England's attacks are going through him. The Liverpool man puts on the afterburners to speed past his marker down the flank before his cross is put behind for a corner. Jordan Henderson sends the ball in but Malta clear.