Roy Keane clears Liam Scales of one Ireland sin but Celtic star 'stupidity' doesn't go unnoticed after England red

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Frustrated Roy Keane refused to throw red card sinner Liam Scales under the bus for his Ireland red card - but the defender couldn't escape criticism for his England horror show.

The Celtic star was a key figure in the backline for Heimir Hallgrímsson's side during the first half at Wembley as he kept Harry Kane and Co at bay during the Nations League clash - but did pick up a booking after he appeared to stop England taking a quick free-kick. But it was a different story in the second period as the centre-back chopped down Jude Bellingham in the box - receiving a second yellow and allowing Bayern Munich star Kane to open the scoring from the penalty spot.

That opened the floodgates for the Three Lions as goals from Anthony Gordon, Conor Gallagher, Jarrod Bowen and Taylor Harwood-Bellis completed the demolition job as Lee Carsley led England back to Nations League Group A before Thomas Tuchel steps into the dugout. After the initial booking, Clinton Morrison stuck the boot in on Scales: "It's the worst yellow card you can get as a centre-back. I used to do stuff like that and now I look at it and think, that's stupidity."

But Keane took a less harsh view of the drubbing after the goalless first half, telling ITV: "The sending off has a huge effect. It's obviously the right decision and with the penalty.

"They lost belief very quickly. They lost a bit of confidence - they lose three goals in six or seven minutes. It was a long way back for them.

"They conceded two or three from set pieces. It is hugely disappointing when you think about where they were at half-time. We said at half-time that England have the quality, but after the sending off it's the real lack of belief after going a goal down."

The former Celtic and Manchester United man then watching the incident back - and shifted the blame for conceding the penalty away from Scales: "I think (Callum) O'Dowda could have been in a bit tighter there. Ireland were just caught out a little bit and it was a long way back."

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