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'Cowardly' Gareth Southgate KNOWS the real source of Harry Maguire's scapegoating is Man United fans... and he's made it WORSE for the under-fire £80m defender by attacking 'faceless pundits', says Simon Jordan

Simon Jordan has claimed Gareth Southgate has made the scapegoating of Harry Maguire worse by attacking 'faceless pundits, rather than the England manager blaming fans for the scrutiny on the under-fire defender.

The Three Lions boss had issued a passionate defence of Maguire after the Manchester United defender's own goal in England's 3-1 win over Scotland on Tuesday.

Southgate blasted pundit criticism the £80m defender has suffered from as being an 'absolute joke'.

'He was exceptional for us at the weekend [in the 1-1 draw with Ukraine]. The reaction tonight is a consequence of idiots really from our side who have created that environment,' Southgate said in a beIN Sports post-match.