DIRTY HARRY
Southgate stands by his man after Maguire shown red just 31 minutes in to Wembley flop
HARRY MAGUIRE trudged off down the tunnel at Wembley looking every inch a broken man.
But Gareth Southgate insists he won’t leave him on the sidelines after England’s first competitive home loss since Spain two years ago,
There could be no complaints over two reckless yellows, his red epitomising an ill-disciplined night.
It was England’s 17th red card – Reece James claimed No.18 after the final whistle due to foul and abusive language – and follows an unhappy few months for Maguire that included a Greek court case.
The warning signs have been there, with calamitous displays for Man Utd in defeat to Crystal Palace and the humiliation by Spurs.
Maguire was booked five minutes in for an over-the-top tackle on
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Yussuf Poulsen. In 31 minutes his night got even worse.
The defender’s poor control left him stretching for the ball and his lunge at Kasper Dolberg was definitely a yellow. Off he trudged.
Southgate said: “The first yellow was a challenge he didn’t need to make and that puts him on edge. The second is an interception with his momentum taking him through.
“He is a top player, a massive part of what we do, and is going through a period where a lot of stick is coming his way. He has our full support and I know his club will be the same. We have total belief in him. He will be getting all sorts – he has been getting all sorts for a while from people who should know better.
“None of us want to be part of that storm and when you are older you can rationalise it and move forward. But he is experiencing it for the first time, I would say.
“His profile has changed over the last couple of years because of the club he plays at and he is having one of those periods where things are going against him. But things will turn.”
Four minutes after his red, Kyle Walker and Jordan Pickford got in a muddle. The keeper didn’t need to come out and when Walker tried to clear he caught Thomas Delaney.
It may have been a harsh penalty but that didn’t matter to Christian Eriksen who slammed it home.