England 3 Ivory Coast 0 LIVE REACTION: Watkins, Sterling & Mings bag for Three Lions on comfortable Wembley evening

England sign off with win

Two games, two victories. England’s World Cup year has begun in the best possible fashion.

Home friendly successes against Switzerland and Ivory Coast may not have the country dreaming of glory in Qatar just yet, but this international break will have provided Gareth Southgate with a greater understanding of the talented squad available to him.

The World Cup becomes a real prospect on Friday when the draw for November’s group stage takes place, and we’ll have first news of exactly who the Three Lions will be facing.

Until then, thanks for joining us, and goodnight.

Southgate slams Maguire boo boys

England boss Gareth Southgate has hit out at the sections of the Wembley crowd that jeered Harry Maguire.

The Manchester United defender was booed when the team was announced before kick-off, and he also had some of his early touches mocked.

Afterwards, Southgate admitted that he couldn’t understand such behaviour, and instead called for total unity with every England player.

I thought the reception was a joke. An absolute joke! What he’s done for us and the way he’s performed for England has been phenomenal. I don’t get it! We’re either all in this together or we’re not. He’s in an England shirt, and not only should you support a player in an England shirt regardless, but when he’s put in the performances for us that he has, it should be total commitment behind him. His performance tonight was pretty faultless.

Gareth SouthgateSky Sports

Skipper Sterling speaks of pride

Raheem Sterling has revealed his ‘great pride’ at being selected as England’s captain for this evening’s friendly.

The Manchester City forward led his country for a third time, and capped the evening with a goal and an assist.

It’s a good night. It’s always an honour to get the opportunity to wear the captain’s armband and I thought I wore it with great pride, and I felt it was a great team performance.

It’s a great privilege. Never in my wildest imagination as a young player coming through would I have thought I’d be captaining England one day. That comes with maturity, the manager seeing that in you, and the passion that I have for the country.

Raheem SterlingSky Sports

Hey Jude! Bellingham stars at Wembley

After tonight’s performance, it’s not a matter of whether Jude Bellingham goes to the World Cup, but whether he starts – and wins it single-handedly.

The omens are certainly good when the former Birmingham star turns out for the Thee Lions. He’s won on all 12 appearances for his country.

Match stats from Wembley

It’s been a one-sided affair at the national stadium where England registered 19 attempts on goal – but only one on target in the second half, from which Tyrone Mings scored.

Full time – England 3-0 Ivory Coast

A comfortable night’s work at Wembley.

First half goals from Ollie Watkins and Raheem Sterling, and a late header from Tyrone Mings ensured England eased to win in their first ever meeting with Ivory Coast.

The visitors’ task was not helped by the sending off of their captain Serge Aurier on 40 minutes for two bookable offences, the second laughably – for many reasons – because of dissent.

The caps a thoroughly professional international break for the Three Lions, who have dealt admirably, if unspectacularly, with everything thrown at them.

England 3-0 Ivory Coast

90+3. Right at the death, Tyrone Mings gets England’s third.

Phil Foden swings out a corner from the left, and there was the Aston Villa defender to outmuscle Simon Deli and powerfully head down.

The bounce deceives goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare, who is unable to get enough touch on the ball on its return in order to keep it out of the net.

It’s England’s first attempt on target of the second half, and there will be barely time for the restart.

Goal! Tyrone Mings makes it three!

England 2-0 Ivory Coast

90. Three minutes of additional time are signalled by the fourth official which means this is the last call for any more paper planes.

Launch them now, Wembley!

England 2-0 Ivory Coast

89. Kane almost steals in but Gallagher’s ball over the top just has too much on it.

It looks as though the half century will have to wait.

England 2-0 Ivory Coast

87. A wee slice of petulance from Foden, who takes a swipe at Konan. I’m not sure where he gets such anger from.

England 2-0 Ivory Coast – Ivory Coast substitution

85. Yohan Boli – son of former Walsall striker Roger Boli, and the nephew of ex-French star Basile Boli – is on for the hapless Haller.

Which means we have Boli and Boly on the field, which is quite fun if nothing else.

England 2-0 Ivory Coast

83. I’ve just realised Sebastian Haller is still playing. I’m not sure how many touches he’s had but it must be approaching Lukaku at Crystal Palace levels.

It’s not his fault, but tonight he’s looked like the West Ham version of Sebastian Haller rather than the Ajax superstar.

England 2-0 Ivory Coast

81. Into the final ten minutes, and England are keeping possession nicely without really threatening the ten men.

Mind you, the ten men are almost all camped in their own 18-yard box.

England 2-0 Ivory Coast – England substitution

79. Another change for the Three Lions, and it’s one that affects the midfield.

James Ward-Prowse has done himself no harm whatsoever tonight, and will sit out the final 11 minutes or so. On comes Conor Gallagher.

England 2-0 Ivory Coast

77. A big chance for Ivory Coast!

Shaw concedes a free-kick on the right, and it gives Seri his first chance to deliver a set-piece into the England box.

The Fulham midfielder’s cross is exquisite, and lands perfectly for Deli on the volley at the far post.

However, the defender gets underneath the ball and sends his shot soaring towards the Wembley roof.

England 2-0 Ivory Coast

75. Walker-Peters and Foden play a neat one-two on the right that sends the Southampton man towards the byline.

On the run, he manages to dig out a fine low cross, but it catches both Kane and Smith Rowe unaware, and evades them both.

England 2-0 Ivory Coast

73. I’m not sure Harry Kane has touched the ball since being introduced which is usually a sure sign that he’s about to score.

England 2-0 Ivory Coast

71. The England end of the pitch is now littered with folded pieces of paper which is either the remains of Serge Aurier’s Villarreal contract or the paper aeroplanes have started again.

England 2-0 Ivory Coast

69. The game has reached the inevitable mid-second half, post-multiple change lull, but James Ward-Prowse almost changes all that in an instance.

The Southampton man picks up possession in midfield, bursts forward and whistle a screamer agonisingly over the bar from 30 yards.

That would have been some goal.

England 2-0 Ivory Coast

67. Kamara endeavours to get forward on the right, but he’s double teamed by Shaw and Smith Rowe, who – just for good measure – invite Bellingham over with a pass to join in.

England 2-0 Ivory Coast

65. The tackles are still sliding in somewhat overzealously for a friendly.

You can bet there are a few Premier League managers watching on, slowly simmering with anger and worry.

England 2-0 Ivory Coast

63. A nice early blitz from Smith Rowe, who shows great willingness and skill to get down the left touchline and beyond his marker.

The Arsenal man certainly has the potential to be a significant part of the England squad.

England 2-0 Ivory Coast – England substitutions

61. Here comes the quadruple change for England! On come Phil Foden, Emile Smith Rowe, Luke Shaw and – surely targeting international goal number 50 – Harry Kane.

Departing after an hour are Raheem Sterling, Jack Grealish, Tyrick Mitchell and Ollie Watkins.

England 2-0 Ivory Coast

58. Guess what? It’s glorious again from Bellingham. He glides past his opponent on the turn with the most delicate of touches.

For the attention of the editors: can we change the page title to the Jude Bellingham live blog, please?