Wayne Rooney celebrated his 100th England cap by scoring a penalty to lead his team to a 3-1 win over Slovenia in a Euro 2016 Group E qualifier at Wembley on Saturday which only came to life after halftime.

The England skipper scored with a thunderous spot-kick after 59 minutes having been fouled by Slovenia captain Bostjan Cesar to move level with Jimmy Greaves as his country's joint-third highest scorer on 44 goals.

He is now just five goals behind Bobby Charlton's all-time record of 49 England goals.

Rooney's equaliser came two minutes after Slovenia took the lead when Milivoje Novakovic whipped in a free kick and Jordan Henderson sent a header flying past Joe Hart for an own goal.

England secured victory with two goals from Danny Welbeck who struck after 66 minutes with a scrappy left-foot shot before making it 3-1 six minutes later after fine build-up play culminated in a superb one-two with Raheem Sterling. He has now scored five times in his last four England appearances.

The victory maintained England's perfect start to the campaign and they head the standings with 12 points from their opening four matches.

Slovenia are second with six points from four games and although they were more adventurous in the second half, they posed virtually no attacking threat in a turgid opening 45 minutes.

The only attempt either team had on goal before halftime was when Jasmin Kurtic forced his goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to make a save to stop what would otherwise have been an own goal.

The evening began when Rooney was presented with a golden cap to mark his 100th match by Charlton before kickoff, but that was about the only memorable thing that happened before Slovenia went ahead.

The hosts, who lacked any attacking threat before the break, suddenly came to life in the 59th minute as Rooney sparked their revival after the visitors scored the first goal England have conceded in this qualifying campaign.

Rooney dribbled through the defence until he was tripped by Cesar, who was making his 81st appearance for his country to become their all-time most-capped player.

Handanovic got his hand to Rooney's penalty but could not stop it going in.

Welbeck, who worked hard alongside Rooney up front, wrapped up the points and the only other England player to emerge from the match with much credit was debutant Nathaniel Clyne, who had a fine game at right back.


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Sergio Aguero's second-half strike gave Manchester City a fourth successive Premier League victory over 10-man Manchester United at Etihad Stadium.
Aguero was twice denied in the first half by David De Gea, before United defender Chris Smalling was sent off.
City then took the lead just after the hour as Aguero fired into the roof of the net from Gael Clichy's pass.
Robin van Persie and Angel di Maria were both denied by Joe Hart as City held firm for the win.
Manuel Pellegrini's side are third, six points behind leaders Chelsea.

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Leaders Chelsea moved nine points clear of title rivals Manchester City as a sublime finish by Oscar helped overcome a determined QPR at Stamford Bridge.
The Brazil midfielder lashed home a first-time low, angled drive with the outside of his boot from 12 yards after being set up by Cesc Fabregas.
Charlie Austin levelled when back-heeling Leroy Fer's shot into the net.
But Eden Hazard's penalty, after the Belgian was fouled by Eduardo Vargas, won it for Chelsea.
Premier League champions City will reduce the gap to six points if they beat neighbours United in the Manchester derby on Sunday.
Jose Mourinho's side head to Slovenia for Wednesday's Champions League group game against NK Maribor unbeaten in 15 games in all competitions this season.
They also have Diego Costa leading the attack again, the Spain international showing flashes of his best form against QPR on his return from a four-game absence.
Chelsea, though laboured, dominated possession and would have won by a more handsome margin but for several saves from Robert Green.

Robin van Persie's equaliser deep into injury time gave Manchester United a point and kept Chelsea within range of their Premier League title rivals after a dramatic Old Trafford finale.
Didier Drogba's header, glanced in off Van Persie early in the second half, looked to have extended Chelsea's lead at the top of the table to six points until a thunderous conclusion in front of the Stretford End.
In scenes reminiscent of days gone by at the Theatre of Dreams, Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Angel Di Maria as United applied late pressure.
Di Maria's resulting free-kick saw Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois save brilliantly from Marouane Fellaini but Van Persie was on hand to thrash home the rebound and spark wild celebrations around Old Trafford.
Blues manager Jose Mourinho turned away in disgust as Van Persie scored, frustrated that the victory his side deserved for controlling long periods had slipped away in a chaotic conclusion.
The Portuguese's side remain four points clear of second-placed Southampton - and, perhaps more significantly, six points ahead of last season's champions Manchester City - but this is a result that will almost have the after-taste of defeat, even though Chelsea's unbeaten run continues.

Without injured top scorer Diego Costa, the old warrior Drogba stepped into the breach and, when United did threaten Chelsea's defence, keeper Courtois was faultless. The Belgian was powerless to prevent Van Persie's leveller.
Despite the late concession, Chelsea looked ominously powerful and carry all the hallmarks of the team to beat this season.
For United manager Louis van Gaal, there will be pleasure in showing the resilience and fighting spirit of old to earn a point - but also the reality that Chelsea showed him how much ground they still have to make up, despite that £150m outlay this summer.
Blues striker Diego Costa's "little chance" of playing turned out to be no chance as his lingering hamstring strain ruled him out while United, without suspended captain Wayne Rooney, were also missing the injured Radamel Falcao.
The old friends, and on this day foes, Van Gaal and Mourinho were in no mood to hold back and it was only the finishing touches that were missing in an enthralling first half that saw chances for both sides.
Courtois saved superbly from Van Persie after the Dutchman was played through, and home keeper David de Gea also excelled to save with his legs after Oscar's pass found Drogba only 12 yards out.
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Jose Mourinho avoids ref controversy
There was one highly contentious moment when Ivanovic was dragged to the floor by Chris Smalling as they chased Cesc Fabregas's delivery into the box but referee Phil Dowd gave nothing.
Chelsea increased the tempo and power at the start of the second half and it was only another fine save from De Gea that stopped Eden Hazard as he ran clean through and looked certain to score.
There was no let-off, though, as Drogba escaped his marker - who mystifyingly was the diminutive Rafael - and headed in off Van Persie at the near post. The striker's attempted headed clearance was flimsy at best.
Drogba will hope the goal is not taken off him after Van Persie's unwitting intervention as it will otherwise go down as his first Premier League goal for Chelsea since he scored against Stoke in March 2012.
Scenting the chance to kill their hosts off, Willian forced De Gea into an athletic save and Ivanovic's bustling run into the area ended with a shot flashed across the face of goal.
United were looking to Van Persie to create a spark but he found Courtois in his way once more after creating space inside the area.
Then came that Ivanovic red card, the scramble in front of the Stretford End and United had their point courtesy of Van Persie.

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 Louis van Gaal says the visit of Jose Mourinho and his Chelsea side to Old Trafford on Sunday will be extra special for the Manchester United manager as he greets his "modest" former apprentice.

The pair have maintained a close relationship since former Barcelona boss Van Gaal gave the self-styled 'Special One' some early coaching opportunities as the Portuguese worked under him for three years at the Nou Camp.

The Dutchman says he is not surprised at Mourinho's emergence as one of the world's best managers and feels privileged to have played a part in his development.

"I knew already he had talent because I let him do Catalunya Cup matches for me instead of my other assistants," Van Gaal told a news conference on Friday ahead of the visit of the Premier League leaders.

"But to see that he's such a wonderful coach and won in different countries, all championships, I think it's fantastic.

"He has said (he learned from me) and it's remarkable because in the football world not many people are talking about that. He says it is not only about Louis van Gaal but also (former Barca manager) Bobby Robson. I appreciate that but you always do it by yourself.

"He is very special for me because I've worked with him and we've continued our relationship which in the football world is not always normal," added the Dutchman. "He is a very modest and emotional human being and I like that."

The pair have only clashed once before in a competitive game when Mourinho's Inter Milan beat Van Gaal's Bayern Munich 2-0 in the 2010 Champions League final.

DEVASTATING FORM

Hosting his former assistant on Sunday will be another difficult task for the United boss with Chelsea in devastating form, dropping only two points from their opening eight games to open up a five-point gap on nearest rivals Manchester City.

In contrast Van Gaal has endured a stuttering league start since taking over in the close season, with his side in sixth place in the table and 10 points adrift of Mourinho's men.

"Jose has worked more than one year already with his team and last year they didn't win any prizes so you have to build up and he has built up Chelsea," said the Dutchman.

"They are playing like a team and I want my team to do that as well but to play for 90 minutes."

United have been handed a boost with British transfer record signing Angel Di Maria deemed fit to face Chelsea.

The Argentina winger limped off when his team snatched a 2-2 draw at West Bromwich Albion on Monday but Van Gaal said he had trained ahead of Sunday's match.

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(Reuters) - There are now fewer black managers in English football than there were a year ago and they are finding it harder than ever to get jobs in football, according to former player Jason Roberts.

He claims there is "open resistance" from clubs to appoint black managers or those from ethnic minorities and it is time the government acted to stop the current system.

Roberts, who scored more than 150 goals in his 18-year playing career, told BBC Radio 5 Live he agreed with Gordon Taylor, the head of the Professional Footballers Association (PFA), that more must be done to increase the number of black managers.

"We have close to 30 per cent BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) players yet we went into the season with no black managers," Roberts said. "That is a shocking statistic and things are getting worse.

"Last season we had three or four black managers in the game. We went into this season with none.

"It has been about 30 years since black players were involved in the game en masse and I think we are now at the point where we have to go to the government and go open and public on this."

Since the start of the season, Chris Powell has become manager of Championship side Huddersfield Town while Keith Curle has been appointed boss of League Two side Carlisle United in rare appointments of black managers.

ROONEY RULE

Roberts said he was in favour of the Rooney Rule, which has had a big impact on the recruitment of black coaches in American football.

The rule, established in 2003, requires NFL teams to interview at least one black or minority ethnic candidate for the head coach's position or a senior role that becomes available.

Before it was introduced, only seven ethnic minority coaches had held senior coaching jobs in the NFL but that has changed dramatically over the last decade.

"You can see the impact it has had," said Roberts, 34, who played for Reading, West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers before retiring from football earlier this year due to injury.

"It isn't a quota system, so it's not the case that because we have 30 per cent black players we have to have 30 per cent black managers.

"It is just an interview, just to involve people who at this moment in time are not getting an opportunity to be involved in the interview process, to pitch their case to the people who are giving these roles out."

Taylor meanwhile told the BBC he thought there was a

"hidden resistance" to hiring black managers.

Roberts added: "I would go further, I would say there is open resistance. There hasn't been any real will from any of the governing bodies to move on this issue. There has been a lack of leadership."

(Reuters) - Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he has no concerns about the form of captain Steven Gerrard after a series of ineffective displays prompted calls from fans and pundits that it is time to reconsider his role in the team.

At 34 years old, Gerrard is entering the period in most players' careers when talk turns to managing dwindling reserves of energy and protecting tired legs from the exertions of the modern game.

Yet there has been no reduction in Gerrard's workload this season with the midfielder starting and finishing all of Liverpool's matches in a patchy and inconsistent beginning to the campaign.

While questions are being asked about whether Gerrard, for so long a talismanic figure at the club, can still be an effective part of Rodgers's side, the manager himself appears not to have any doubts.

"I have no concerns about him - he is a brilliant player for us," Rodgers said, before hinting that his legs could be spared for the bigger games as the season wears on.

"We want him to be involved in the big games because of his experience and we will always taper that recovery to allow him to be at the very best he can be."

The question fans are asking now, however, is whether Gerrard can still be effective in his deep-lying quarter-back role when teams come armed with spoiler tactics to restrict his creative influence.

Recent defeats against Aston Villa and West Ham United have suggested teams will now routinely employ a man-marker to prevent Gerrard having the time and space to launch the raking passes that proved so effective in Liverpool's unexpected title challenge last season.

"I think the problem that Liverpool have got at the moment, particularly with Steven Gerrard dropping into that back three, teams have worked that out," former England and Manchester United defender Phil Neville said.

"Against Aston Villa last week (Gabriel) Agbonlahor just sat on Gerrard all game, they didn't let Steven Gerrard dictate the pace of the game, and that's what he did last season, particularly from Christmas onwards. On Saturday, Stewart Downing did it for West Ham."

If Gerrard is no longer providing an attacking threat then the spotlight is increasingly focussed on other areas of his game including his ability to shut the door at the other end.

Liverpool conceded 50 goals last season, more than any other team in the top five, while they have already shipped eight in their five league games of the new campaign.

Three of Liverpool's starting four defenders against West Ham were new signings, suggesting they might need time to gel, but in front of them, Gerrard won just 25 percent of his duels, the lowest figure of anyone in the team.

The former England captain was quoted on Monday saying he would not let his career "fizzle out", but he now faces a battle to show he can remain a force in one of the most physically demanding leagues in the world.