Euro 2012 qualifer: Bulgaria v England - in pictures

It's a couple of hours before kick off at the Vasil Levski Stadium and the security staff prepare themselves for the influx of thousands of fans Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

Maybe the ground staff should have done a bit more preparation. Or it could be a ploy to interrupt England's game Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

An England fan shows off his balancing skills as he puts a flag up in the stands. The visiting fans will be expecting a victory as England beat Bulgaria 4-0 at Wembley last September Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

England's manager Fabio Capello emerges from the tunnel Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

His chosen line-up tonight features a number of players who have swapped clubs in recent weeks - Scott Parker, Stewart Downing, Ashley Young - though Gary Cahill (back row left) remains a Bolton a player despite interest from rival clubs Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

Capello looks to be in a pensive mood. He must feel that his team need a good result after the disappointing 2-2 draw with Switzerland back in June. England are currently joint top of Group G with Montenegro on 11 points Photograph: Oleg Popov/AP

Following a fairly even if unremarkable first 13 minutes, England take the lead. After a corner is cleared, Gareth Barry picks up the ball in the middle of the park and clips a pass down the inside-right channel for Cahill, who breaks clear through a huge hole in the Bulgaria defence and pokes a shot under the advancing Mihaylov. The ball nicks the keeper but creeps into the bottom-left corner Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

And it's not long before it's 2-0 ... Wayne Rooney is the scorer - he rises highest in a crowded box to meet a corner from Gareth Barry. The Manchester United striker beats his team-mate John Terry in the air to head the ball into the net Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

...he looks quite pleased with his 6th goal in only his 4th appearance of the season Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

In the dying seconds of the first half Martin Petrov tries his luck from distance again, but his shot hits Scott Parker on the arm. The Bulgarian's claim for handball is ignored by the referee who waves play on. England counter quickly and... Photograph: Nikolay Doychinov/AFP/Getty Images

Walcott receives the ball and then plays Ashley Young in down the right with a clever reverse pass, and the Manchester United winger slides a first time ball across the box to his club and international team-mate who's unmarked and has the simple task of tapping the ball into an empty net. This is too easy! Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

The three men involved in the goal celebrate their handiwork Photograph: Vassil Donev/EPA

Petar Zanev can't believe that Gareth Barry has managed to out-jump Martin Petrov Photograph: Oleg Popov/AP

Scott Parker gets stuck in and takes on Bulgaria's Blagoy Georgiev, left, and Ivelin Popov. This sort of attitude is probably one of the reasons that Harry Redknapp paid £5.5 million for him earlier this week Photograph: Stoyan Nenov/Reuters

Ashley Cole shys away from a flying Ivan Bandalovski Photograph: Stoyan Nenov/Reuters

Some sections of the Bulgaria fans directed monkey chants at Ashley Young, Ashley Cole and Theo Walcott during the second half. After the match the Bulgaria coach Lothar Matthäus apologised for the conduct of a minority of the country's fans Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

It appears that the Bulgarian fans don't like UEFA either Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images

Wayne Rooney has been an industrious fellow thoughout the game causing no end of problem for the Bulgarians Photograph: EPA

Theo Walcott is another in-form player who puts in a quality performance. Here he cruises past Petar Zanev Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters

A sight that is pleasing to the England fans in Sofia, but not as pleasing as this one Photograph: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images

Scott Parker shields the ball from Bulgaria's Marcos Marquinhos Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters

Frank Lampard, who was dropped in favour of Stewart Downing, replaces Gareth Barry with 10 minutes to go and finds himself combining with Downing in order to dispossess Petar Zanev Photograph: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images

With two minutes to go Rooney has a chance to claim his second hat-trick in five days but he can't stretch his leg enough to reach Milner's cross as it zings across the six yard area Photograph: Oleg Popov/AP

England fans celebrate at the final whistle. They, the players and the manager will be happy with the result. Something that won't please the England camp and the majority of the England fans are reports that there were chants from sections of the away support of "Where's your caravan?" directed at the locals Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images

England captain John Terry and team-mates applaud the fans at full time. The thoughts of the players and manager now turn to the match against Wales in 4 days time. Though Wales' 2-1 victory over Montenegro has done England a favour, in that they are now sitting 3 points clear at the top of the table, the Welsh performance will serve as a warning to Fabio Capello and his team Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images