‘Not time to panic’ – Harry Kane leaps to defence of Gareth Southgate as England fans turn on boss after Hungary shocker
HARRY KANE claims England's worst home loss since 1928 is "not the time to panic" as fans turned on Gareth Southgate after Hungary's 4-0 win.
Skipper Kane claimed the "bigger picture" was still positive for this winter's World Cup but Southgate admitted questions will "rightly" be asked.
Supporters grew restless as Roland Sallai struck two sharp finishes for Hungary.
That jeering soared as Zsolt Nagy and Daniel Gadzag hit late breakaway goals, while Three Lions centre-back John Stones saw red for two bookings.
And after boos rang round Molineux at the final whistle, striker Kane insisted he was unhappy that Southgate's future was even up for debate.
He told Radio 5Live: "It's a really disappointing question to be asked.
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"Let's not forget where we have come from.
"Gareth has been a key part of transforming this England team to one of the most successful sides we have had in the past 50 years.
"I know it's disappointing for the fans. It has been a disappointing camp, every now and then football throws up a surprise, we have to look at the big picture.
"It's the first low point I've had in five years, a really disappointing night.
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"We expect to win these games, but it wasn't our night. We need to stay calm and learn from it.
"We've had two fantastic tournaments in a row. It's not the time to panic.
"It's a loss we're disappointed with but we need to stay calm and we know we have stuff to work on."
Southgate himself backed his players to 'stay strong' and said he need to use the Nations League games to try out new things.
He told Channel 4: “I understand the reaction to that in the stadium.
"This group of players have been unbelievable for their country and it is important for people to stay with them. They will still be strong going forward.
"In the end, this is about winning matches with England but tonight was the sort of night my predecessors have had experienced.
"I am not going to say it does not hurt but it is clear to me what we were trying to do across the four matches.
We have had some unbelievable nights with England but this is the other side.
Gareth Southgate
"The Nations League campaigns have put negativity and pressure onto us and you don't normally have that as England manager. It is my job to protect the players, the results are my responsibility.
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"People will rightly say, 'what are you talking about?' We needed to see some things.
"We have had some unbelievable nights with England over the last four or five years but this is the other side and that is the reality of football."