England's Gareth Southgate on Harry Maguire boos: 'Reception was an absolute joke'

Gareth Southgate has branded England fans booing Harry Maguire «an absolute joke» after he was targeted by some supporters during Tuesday's 3-0 win over Ivory Coast.

The Manchester United defender was jeered as his name was announced in the starting line-up before kick-off at Wembley and also after his first touch in an incident which somewhat marred a routine win courtesy of goals from Ollie Watkins, Raheem Sterling and Tyrone Mings.

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Serge Aurier was sent off five minutes before half-time as England eased to a victory in front of 73,405 fans which continues their preparations for November's World Cup finals but Southgate was frustrated by the treatment of Maguire, who has been a mainstay of the team that reached the previous World Cup semifinals in 2018 and the Euro 2020 final.

He told Sky Sports: «I thought the reception was a joke, an absolute joke. The way he has performed for us has been absolutely phenomenal. I don't get it. We're either all in this together or we're not.

»He's in an England shirt and not only should you support a player in an England shirt regardless, but when you've played at the level he has for us and put the performances in he has, it should be total commitment behind him. I don't get it at all.

«His performance was pretty faultless really. He stepped out from the back really well for his first goal, was involved in the second one too. So, yeah. The team are totally united. We recognise everyone has difficult moments but he's a top player and he will come through it.

»They are real England fans and some are influenced