Jordan Pickford kept a clean sheet as England moved a step closer to qualification for Euro 2020, however their 6-0 win in Bulgaria was overshadowed by racist chanting.
The Everton goalkeeper was granted a straightforward night on the occasion of his 23rd cap but the game in Sofia was twice stopped in the first half due to abuse being heard from the stands.
Defender Michael Keane was an unused substitute for the Three Lions.
Looking to respond to Friday’s surprising 2-1 defeat to Czech Republic, England went in front when Marcus Rashford fired in on seven minutes.
Pickford was called into action three minutes later but was alert to keep out Bulgaria skipper Ivelin Popov's deflected shot.
Everton Academy product Ross Barkley then struck twice and Raheem Sterling added another before the break.
Sterling and captain Harry Kane applied further gloss to the scoreline in the second half to move England three points clear at the top of Group A.
Kosovo’s 2-0 victory over Montenegro in the group’s other game of the evening prevented Gareth Southgate’s side confirming their place at next summer’s tournament - a quest that will now go on to meetings with Montenegro and Kosovo next month.
Elsewhere, Cenk Tosun played the final nine minutes as Turkey earned an impressive 1-1 draw away to world champions France, for whom Lucas Digne was an unused substitute.
The stalemate keeps Turkey ahead of France at the summit of Group H by virtue of their better head-to-head record, Turkey having defeated Didier Deschamps’ side 2-0 in their home meeting in June.
In the same group, Gylfi Sigurdsson collected his 72nd cap as Iceland beat Andorra 2-0 to move within four points of the leaders in third.
The Everton midfielder might have added to the scoreline but saw his 73rd-minute spot-kick saved with the hosts already ahead through efforts from Arnor Sigurdsson and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson.
In Group B, Andre Gomes watched on from the bench as second-placed Portugal were beaten 2-1 away against frontrunners Ukraine.
Elsewhere, Fraser Hornby, currently on loan at K.V. Kortrijk, managed the full 90 minutes as Scotland Under-21s played out a goalless European Championship qualifier in Czech Republic.
Lewis Gibson's England Under-20s were beaten 3-0 by Czech Republic in a friendly at Peterborough's Weston Homes Stadium, while Nathan Markelo and Holland Under-20s drew 1-1 with Portugal.
