Gareth Southgate backs Harry Maguire after defender is sent off on miserable night for England - in pictures

Reece James also gets red card on full debut as Denmark triumph in Nations League at Wembley

Harry Maguire trudges off the pitch after being sent off during England's defeat against Denmark at Wembley. Reuters

Referee Jesus Gil Manzano shows England's Reece James (C) a red card after the final whistle. AFP

Referee Jesus Gil Manzano shows a red card to England's Harry Maguire. AP

Referee Jesús Gil Manzano pulls out the red card. AFP

England manager Gareth Southgate after the game. Reuters

Denmark's Kasper Dolberg looks in pain after a challenge by England's Harry Maguire. PA

Referee Jesús Gil Manzano shows a yellow card to Maguire after his tackle on Dolberg. AFP

Kasper Dolberg of Denmark is tended by medical staff after being tackled by Harry Maguire . Getty

England's manager Gareth Southgate at the final whistle. AFP

England striker Harry Kane at the final whistle. AFP

Denmark's Christian Eriksen, right, scores his team's goal from the penalty spot. AP

Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen (L) and teammates at the final whistle. AFP

England defender Reece James (C) and striker Harry Kane talk with the referee Jesus Gil Manzano at the end of the game. AFP

Reece James in action at Wembley. EPA

Jordan Pickford for England against Denmark. EPA

England's Jordan Henderson and Conor Coady. Reuters

Gareth Southgate threw his support behind Harry Maguire after the out-of-sorts defender's sending off in England's shock Nations League loss to Denmark.

Three days on from coming back to beat Belgium, Christian Eriksen fired home a controversially-awarded penalty to seal a 1-0 victory in front of empty stands at Wembley.

Frustration boiled over after the final whistle as full debutant Reece James was sent off for dissent, but the fallout from England's first home defeat since September 2018 is sure to focus on Manchester United's Maguire.

Having started the campaign poorly after a truncated pre-season overshadowed by a Greek court case, the world's most expensive defender received his marching orders after 31 minutes on Wednesday.

Maguire could have no argument with either booking, and Southgate has backed him to come through this sticky period, saying "he has been getting all sorts [of criticism] for a while from people who should know better".

Asked to clarify those comments, the England boss said: "No, I don't think it needs elaborating on.

"But he's having a difficult period and in these periods you learn a lot about yourself, you learn a lot about other people. You learn who's there for you in those difficult times.

"He'll come through it, he'll be a better player and a stronger man for it.

"He knows there will be criticism after this, and you have to accept that.

"To go down to 10 men is costly for the team, but we fully back him, we fully support him.

"He's been a top player and is a top player for us. He'll come through it.

"He showed on Sunday why we think so much of him with his performance against Belgium. He'll get through this period and he'll be back to his best."

Southgate says he has no intention of taking Maguire out of the firing line when England next meet up in November.

The Three Lions boss has plenty to mull over before then and is sure to have a word with James.

"The sending off at the end I'm told was for dissent, so that's something as a young player he has to recognise is not acceptable," Southgate said of the Chelsea youngster.

"I thought his individual performance was outstanding with and without the ball. The opening half an hour, him and his combinations with Mason (Mount), Kyle (Walker) and the midfield players really opened them up.

Couldn't be prouder

"The most frustrating thing of the night is we were playing so well, using the ball so well and sustaining attacks well.

"But this is football. Moments change the flow of the game – that's always the nature.

"You can't afford to go down to 10 at any level of the game. It's extremely difficult to improve your result when you're down to 10.

"But the resilience that they showed as a group, selecting the right moments to defend in depth and to be compact and to wait, selecting the right moments to press, selecting the right moments to play from the back, when to go slightly longer, maximise the set plays.

"They almost carried out the perfect plan with 10 men and created some good opportunities, so I couldn't be prouder of what they've done – not just tonight but across the three months.

"We've had an incredible chain of things to deal with for both of the two camps this autumn, but this group have got stronger."

There was far more to talk about than after last month's 0-0 draw in Copenhagen, with Denmark head coach Kasper Hjulmand full of praise for his side.

"For us it's a very big night," he said. "I think the last time the Danish team made a big result was also 1-0, Allan Simonsen and a penalty. Today it was Christian Eriksen and a penalty.

"Thirty seven years ago, we made the same result and since then we haven't won here at Wembley and it's a very difficult place to play.

"So, to come here and get the three points, the win 1-0, it's a very big night for Denmark and we are very proud and very happy.

"I also want to congratulate Christian and Simon Kjaer – reaching 100 caps on a night like this."

A different story: Player ratings from England 2 Belgium 1