The longest honeymoon is finally over for Gareth Southgate.
England were humiliated at Molineux, outplayed and outwitted by Hungary for the second time in 11 days as Southgate’s men were brought crashing down to earth.
Beaten by a team ranked 40th in the world, below Scotland and the crowd really began to turn on Southgate as loud boos rang out with a chorus of “you don’t know what you’re doing” after the third goal went in.
“We want Southgate out” chants followed the fourth as England were systematically taken apart by Hungary and suffered their worst home defeat since 1928. It was compounded by John Stones being sent off in the 82nd minute - albeit harshly for a second yellow - but that just about summed up England’s night.
It was the night when Southgate, who has enjoyed so many good times after reaching the World Cup semi final and the Euros final last summer, was given a brutal reminder of just how tough the impossible job can be.
England have now gone six hours - four games - without a goal from open play and this is the worst run of results since 2014 which saw Roy Hodgson’s men return home from the World Cup before the postcards.
Make no mistake, Southgate is now facing the biggest crisis of his six year reign and, after insisting last week he would not outstay his welcome, he may live to regret being quite so bullish.
Incredibly, England are facing the humiliating prospect of being relegated from Nations League Group A3. It is the competition England could have done without at the end of the season and also might be the one which will haunt Southgate.
Southgate looked shell shocked at the final whistle, not knowing quite what to do or where to look as these are unquestionably the darkest days of his England reign and a large section of the fans have already turned. This was supposed to be the night when England turned the campaign around but it started badly after 16 minutes - and got worse.
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Hungary’s Dominik Szoboszlai swung over a free kick from the left, John Stones failed to clear, Harry Kane missed a clearance and there was Roland Sallai to smash home past a despairing Aaron Ramsdale who got a hand to the ball but could not keep it out.
Szoboszlai’s set pieces were causing havoc and England could so easily have gone further behind but for Reece James heading another free kick off the line. England looked half asleep.
Jarrod Bowen looked out of his depth and was subbed at half time, Connor Gallagher followed soon after in the second half, England went to a back three but that only smacked of desperation and not knowing what they were doing. It got even worse for England after 70 minutes.
Kalvin Phillips, who looked so far off the pace, was caught horribly in possession, Martin Adam set up Sallai and the Hungary forward smashed his second past Ramsdale.
Zsolt Nagy smashed home a third after 80 minutes by which time the England fans were in open revolt. Stones saw red two minutes later for a second yellow card, a harsh decision as he barely touched Daniel Gazdag. It was Gazdag who made it 4-0 after 89 minutes after England’s defence was carved wide open to send the Hungary fans into delight as they celebrated a famous victory on a painful night for England and Southgate.
The chants descended into “You’re getting sacked in the morning.” Now Southgate is facing a very tough six months in the build-up to the World Cup.
