Southgate calls jeers for ‘faultless’ Man Utd star ‘a joke’; plays down hype over new England magician

England boss Gareth Southgate was fuming about the treatment dished out to Harry Maguire by the Wembley fans during his side’s 3-0 friendly win over Ivory Coast.

The Manchester United skipper was jeered pre-match and early on in the game as Jude Bellingham produced an outstanding individual display as England followed up Saturday’s 2-1 win against Switzerland with a dominant display.

The hosts were well in control and leading through Ollie Watkins’ close-range finish, before former Tottenham defender Serge Aurier’s dismissal – when he was shown a second yellow card for dissent – five minutes before the break.

Raheem Sterling, skipper for the night and creator of Watkins’ 30th-minute opener, made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time, effectively ending the game as a contest.

Defender Tyrone Mings’ injury-time header, which actually came off his nose, completed the formalities.

And speaking after the contest, Southgate was not happy about the treatment United star Maguire received.

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.

Raheem Sterling is on FIRE

Tonight's England captain now has a goal and assist as the #ThreeLions lead the Ivory Coast 2-0 following Serge Aurier's red card pic.twitter.com/DJPcSGT5c6

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 29, 2022

“His performance was pretty faultless really. He stepped out from