England coach Sven Goran Eriksson, as expected, confirm an unchanged team from the side that won so spectacularly in Munich.
2000 BST: Before kick-off, the capacity St James' Park crowd observes a one-minute silence for football commentator Brian Moore, who died on Saturday. 2001 BST: England kick off wearing a kit of all white and looking for the win that would take them top of the group.
4 mins: Michael Owen stumbles under the challenge of Geri Cipi and is then sent crashing in the penalty area by goalkeeper Foto Strakosha, but referee Juan Fernandez Marin rules that neither warrant a penalty.
7 mins: A superb cross from David Beckham picks out Nicky Barmby at the far post but he heads wide unchallenged.
8 mins: A fine Barmby run down the left sees the Liverpool man cross for Emile Heskey, who is denied by a brave block from Strakosha.
10 mins: Owen's far-post cross is headed across goal by Barmby but his knock-down fails to find Heskey.
14 mins: England are lucky not to concede a penalty as Ashley Cole clatters into Altin Rraklli as the pair challenge for a deep cross.
15 mins: Another fine Beckham cross sees Owen rise highest and send a header just wide. 24 mins: Gary Neville's long throw finds Paul Scholes, who sees one shot blocked and the follow-up deflected for a corner.
27 mins: Rio Ferdinand heads over from a Beckham corner as England start to pile on the pressure.
31 mins: Beckham's low cross is met on the volley by Owen, but his volley fizzes the wrong side of the near post.
32 mins: Beckham and Owen combine again, but Owen's shot is straight at the keeper.
34 mins: Edvin Murati is booked for hacking at the heels of Beckham.
42 mins: Beckham is fouled again and his attempt to take a quick free-kick is blocked by Besnik Hasi, who earns a yellow card for his troubles.
43 mins: Beckham's long-range free kick is pushed away by Strakosha.
44 mins: England's pressure finally pays off as they take the lead a minute before half-time.
Paul Scholes' clever chip over the top finds Michael Owen, who ends a fine angled run with a neat volley that gives Strakosha no chance.
England 1-0 Albania
45 mins: Steven Gerrard is booked for a clumsy challenge on Arjan Xhumba.
Half-time: England 1-0 Albania
52 mins: Beckham attempts to take a free-kick quickly and, though his kick is charged down again, the England captain is alert enough to run with the ball and deliver a cross which just eludes Heskey and Owen.
54 mins: Robbie Fowler comes off the bench for England, replacing the ineffective Heskey. 57 mins: Owen's run takes him to the Albania by-line, but he can't quite cut the ball back for the inrushing Barmby.
58 mins: Substitute Iglie Tare skips past Campbell and delivers a teasing cross only to find the penalty box empty of Albanian forwards.
60 mins: Fowler nearly makes an immediate impact, but sees his reaction shot pushed round the post after Owen's initial effort had fallen to his Liverpool colleague.
64 mins: Sven Goran Eriksson makes his second change of the night, replacing Barmby with Steve McManaman, just as he had done on Saturday.
66 mins: Devis Mukaj is given time and space to shoot but sends his effort just wide.
70 mins: McManaman's sloppy pass lets in Albania again and Bogdani's shot is deflected for a corner.
72 mins: McManaman has an immediate chance to make up for his error as Fakaj's header drops to him 12 yards out with the goalkeeper stranded in no-man's-land, but McManaman chips the ball wastefully over the crossbar.
78 mins: Edvin Murati's swerving shot forces David Seaman into his first save of the game as he pushes the ball over for a corner.
81 mins: Seaman flaps at a cross and is then forced to palm another teasing cross over as Albania press for a shock equaliser.
82 mins: McManaman's horrible night continues as his sloppy header hands Albania another chance, which is wasted.
83 mins: Jamie Carragher replaces Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard.
84 mins: Fowler's downward header is pushed over the bar by Strakosha.
85 mins: Strakosha pulls off a flying save to deny Beckham a stunning second as England look to tie the points up.
88 mins: England seal victory with a superbly taken goal from substitute Fowler, who spins away from his marker then drifts past two more defenders before beating Strakosha with a neat chipped finish.
England 2-0 Albania
90 mins: Mukaj threatens England again in stoppage time as his shot is blocked on the line by Sol Campbell.
England: Seaman, G Neville, Campbell, Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Beckham, Gerrard, Scholes, Barmby, Owen, Heskey. Substitutes: Wright, Carragher, Southgate, Hargreaves, McManaman, Andy Cole, Fowler.
Albania: Strakosha, Dede, Cipi, Xhumba, Fakaj, Hasi, Murati, Bellai, Bata, Rraklli, Bogdani. Subs: Beqaj, Fortuzi, Mukaj, Rudi Vata, Skela, Tare, Alban Bushi.
Referee: Juan Antonio Fernandez Marin (Madrid)