Three goals in the last six minutes disguised an uninspired England performance as they beat Malta 4-0 to stay firmly on course to qualify for next year's World Cup finals.
Harry Kane's 53rd-minute goal was all that separated England's Premier League stars from Malta's humble part-timers until a late flurry added gloss on the scoreline.
Ryan Bertrand's powerful shot doubled England's lead before Danny Welbeck and Kane with his second punished the flagging islanders in stoppage time in Valetta.
England stayed top of qualifying Group F with 17 points from seven games, two more than second-placed Slovakia, who beat Slovenia and who travel to play England on Monday.
England were booed off by a large travelling army of fans at halftime having shown a complete lack of guile in trying to break down a well-disciplined Malta side.
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The mood was more cheery at the end, although England will need to play better to avoid a slip against Slovakia at Wembley.
"We didn't have that many clear cut chances, we knew at halftime we had to keep going and we would break them down eventually," England captain Jordan Henderson said.
"There are positives to come out of it but plenty of room to improve it as well."
Kane, without a goal for his club so far this season, eased England's angst after a poor start when he was picked out by Tottenham Hotspur teammate Dele Alli before shooting home.
Even with their noses in front England failed to find another gear and Malta occasionally threatened to embarrass their illustrious guests before Bertrand's shot bounced in front of the diving Malta goalkeeper Andrew Hogg and into the net.
Substitute Welbeck then poked in a third before Kane tapped in England's fourth.
