Gareth Southgate insists supporters who jeer the taking of the knee and aim racist abuse at players will be regarded as “dinosaurs” after his England side were once again subjected to monkey chants.
Raheem Sterling and Jude Bellingham were the reported targets of a number of Hungary supporters inside the Puskas Arena as England turned in a fine performance to win their World Cup qualifier 4-0.
Just 53 days after the heartbreak of their Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy, Sterling put England in front as they ran riot after the break, with Harry Kane, Harry Maguire and Declan Rice also on the scoresheet.
Sterling turned in a Mason Mount cross before revealing a message in tribute to a close friend who recently died.
Cups were hurled towards him and his team-mates as they celebrated in the corner, but the Manchester City man was not flustered, laying on a cross for Kane to head home the second just eight minutes later.
Maguire’s header then squirmed through Peter Gulacsi to make it three, with the Hungary goalkeeper also at fault as Rice scored the fourth late on.
“From the start the players were excellent,” added Southgate.
“They showed the humility I spoke about in approaching every day this week the right way.
“They know the standards they need to set. I was very pleased with the first half – even though we didn’t score we were in total control of the ball.
“We didn’t get the final pass or dribble quite right, but knew that in the end they would tire. They couldn’t keep chasing and defending – we made what was a very difficult fixture very comfortable in the end.”