LONDON -- England caretaker manager Gareth Southgate defended captain Wayne Rooney after Saturday's 2-0 World Cup qualifier win over Malta.
First-half goals from Dele Alli and Daniel Sturridge were enough to earn the three points for Southgate's side, but after the break England's performance dropped significantly, to the extent that some sections of the crowd booed at the final whistle.
Rooney was singled-out for opprobrium by some of the 81,000 present -- even before the game, his name booed by sections of the crowd when it was announced.
Rooney played in a deep midfield role, and despite bemoaning the slowness of England's passing at times, of which Rooney seemed particularly guilty, Southgate seemed mystified at the treatment of the Manchester United man.