Albania vs England LIVE REACTION: Kane and Mount on target for England as World Cup 2022 qualifying run continues

GOODNIGHT

That’s all from Tirana where England have made it two wins from their opening two games as they set out on the road to Qatar 2022.

While Albania this afternoon were a tougher test than San Marino so too will be Poland on Wednesday evening.

Nevertheless, the Three Lions were professional in their performance here as goals from Harry Kane – his first for his country in 500 days – and Mason Mount ensured a 2-0 success.

We’re signing off now for the evening, but if you require further reading then here’s Dave Kidd’s match report of England’s victory for you to enjoy.

Thanks for joining us and goodbye.

A SOCIAL GROUP

Several of the England players have taken to Twitter to express their delight at bagging a second win in four days.

SOUTHGATE REACTION

England head coach Gareth Southgate praised his players for the way they adjusted to the conditions and some tactical tweaks to prevail, but warned against some sloppiness in the play late on.

What pleased me was that it was a difficult pitch to move the ball on so we adapted well to that. After about 25 minutes, we changed the shape of the midfield a little and looked a lot more dangerous. We were comfortable for most of the second half, but I didn’t like the way we managed the game in the last 15 minutes. I’m pleased with the win but there are certainly areas we can tighten up in.

Gareth SouthgateITV

LIONS ROARING

England are off to the perfect start in Group I.

However, after games with San Marino and Albania in the past four days, a visit from Poland and Robert Lewandowski on Wednesday night will be an altogether different proposition.

NOTHING GETS PAST NICK

He may have had little to do this evening, but Nick Pope has ensured his name is etched in the history books after becoming the first England goalkeeper to clock up clean sheets in each of his first six games for his country.

NICE AND SPICY RICE

Declan Rice again excelled in that defensive midfield role in Albania, and, with Jordan Henderson almost certainly out of the summer’s European Championships, the West Ham man looks the favourite to fill such an important role.

CAPTAIN’S LOG

Harry Kane was back among the goals this evening, and the England captain has spoken at full time about how a tweak in tactics in Tirana helped them to victory.

I thought it was a really good performance. It’s never easy coming away from home against a tough side. Maybe we were a little slow to start so we changed our formation halfway through the first half and that definitely helped as we got more runners in the box, and had more attacking play. Getting the goal before half-time was great, and then we controlled the second half well.

Harry KaneITV

MASON MOUNTING A CHALLENGE

Mason Mount impressed again, capping his performance with a lovely second goal.

The Chelsea midfielder has had his detractors, but – on this form – can he be left out of either his club or national side?

HENDERSON’S RELISH

The news regarding Jordan Henderson’s injury has not been positive this week, but the setback hasn’t stopped the absent England midfielder from cheering on his teammates in the national side.

FULL TIME STATS

A routine win for England, and a record sixth successive clean sheet for Nick Pope at the start of his international career – although the Burnley goalkeeper didn’t face a single shot on target.

FT: ALBANIA 0-2 ENGLAND

England get the job done in Tirana with a straightforward 2-0 win. Goals from each half from Harry Kane and Mason Mount ensure Gareth Southgate’s side are off to a perfect start in Group with two wins from two, seven goals scored and none conceded.

PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE FINAL WHISTLE GOES!

ALBANIA 0-2 ENGLAND

90+3. Pope nearly blows his chance of that record by spooning a clearance straight to Uzuni.

The ball bounces of the Albania forward, and falls for Manaj. As the substitute prepares to set himself for the strike, however, the flag goes up for offside.

A let off for the England goalkeeper.

ALBANIA 0-2 ENGLAND

90. Four minutes of stoppage time are signalled.

England are four minutes away from making it two wins from two in World Cup qualifying.

Nick Pope is four minutes away from becoming the first England goalkeeper to keep clean sheets in each of his first six international appearances.

ALBANIA 0-2 ENGLAND

89. Gjasula picks up a booking for a foul on Mount.

We shouldn’t be too surprised though, Gjasula has the record for the most yellow cards in a Bundesliga season.

ALBANIA 0-2 ENGLAND

88. Albania make one more change as Yylber Ramadani is brought on for Qazam Laci.

ALBANIA 0-2 ENGLAND

85. Walker bodychecks Laci as an aerial pass is sent in the midfielder’s direction.

The England right-back isn’t happy with the referee’s decision to penalise him, but he’ll have to bare careful having already been cautioned.

ALBANIA 0-2 ENGLAND

83. The pitch is really starting to cut up now, although I don’t know if that’s the reason for two different Albania players inexplicably failing to keep the ball in play within a 30 second period.

ALBANIA 0-2 ENGLAND

81. England make their second change. Phil Foden has impressed again, but now his night is over. Jesse Lingard is the man on in his place.

ALBANIA 0-2 ENGLAND

78. Hysaj goes into the book for cynically pulling back Sterling as the forward looked to utilise his pace in order to take advantage of a stretched Albania defence.

ALBANIA 0-2 ENGLAND

76. Ooof! A rare Albania attack in this second half ends with Pope and Maguire clattering into each other in their attempts to clear a cross, a job latterly done by Shaw as his two teammates pick themselves up off the turf.

ALBANIA 0-2 ENGLAND

75. Into the final quarter of an hour, and England are easing their way to a perfect start from their opening two World Cup qualifying games.

ALBANIA 0-2 ENGLAND

73. Kane picks up an unwarranted yellow card which will almost certainly come back to bite when he’s suspended later in the group.

The striker is penalised for sliding in on Djimsiti and Ismakili in his attempt to turn a Sterling cross over the line, following the Manchester City forward’s original fluff of a shot off Ward-Prowse’s cross.

ALBANIA 0-2 ENGLAND

71. Albania make another change of their own as Keidi Bare is replaced by Ledian Memushaj.

ALBANIA 0-2 ENGLAND

70. Southgate does indeeed make a change, introducing James Ward-Prowse for Kalvin Phillips.