Thomas Tuchel suffered his first defeat as England manager on Tuesday night.
The German was hoping to see a marked improvement in his troops after they had laboured to a 1-0 win over minnows Andorra in World Cup qualifying on Saturday.
But they were undone by a slick and determined Senegal side, who showed the quality and invention Tuchel would have been desperate to see.
After a lively start by the African giants, Harry Kane broke the deadlock for the home side against the run of play.
But Senegal – who with this win became the first team from the continent to inflict defeat on the Three Lions – found an equaliser through Ismaila Sarr before Habib Diarra snuck in for the winner just after the hour. Cheikh Sabaly put the icing on a hugely enjoyable cake for the visiting Senegalese late on.
Mail Sport’s Kieran Gill was the City Ground to cast an eye over the performers hoping to stake their claim to part of Tuchel’s World Cup squad in just over a year’s time.
Thomas Tuchel suffered his first defeat as England boss, as his team were defeated 3-1 by Senegal
The Three Lions suffered their first defeat to an African side thanks to goals from Ismaila Sarr and Habib Diarra
England struggled to maintain a threat throughout and were too easily bested by Senegal’s impressive attack
ENGLAND (4-4-1-1)
Dean Henderson – 6
Audition was going well until beaten by Ismaila Sarr when Walker forgot to defend, and unfortunately conceded again to Habbib Diarra’s cross-shot.
Kyle Walker – 4
Walker will be 36 by the next World Cup and he looked it when Sarr exposed his snoozing to equalise.
Trevoh Chalobah – 5
Started the season in Chelsea’s ‘bomb squad’. Now he’s an England debutant. But couldn’t stop Nicolas Jackson’s cross for Senegal’s leveller.
Levi Colwill – 5
Another Chelsea boy at centre back, but let’s be honest, Henderson needed protecting better by his back line here.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 5
Senegal took their 2-1 lead through Diarra with a simple ball into the acres of space behind Lewis-Skelly.
Dean Henderson took to his England audition well before his net was breached by Sarr before the break
Kyle Walker was caught on his heels by the quicker and more determined Sarr for the Senegal equaliser
Bukayo Saka – 5
After struggling to find a way into Senegal’s box, he finally had his chance, but Mendy’s superb save denied him.
Conor Gallagher – 5
He’s a relentless ball-winner, but Tuchel wasn’t too pleased when he picked the wrong pass to kill one attack.
Declan Rice – 5
The odd misplaced pass in what was not his most influential performance in midfield, as England lacked overall control.
Anthony Gordon – 5
Key to Kane scoring his opener, but made a mess of his own tap-in which would have made it 2-0.
Eberechi Eze – 6
Played off Kane and won the ball to spark the build-up to his opener, and lovely lay-off nearly led to Gibbs-White scoring.
Harry Kane – 6
Now scored in all four England games under Tuchel with Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy gifting him his rebounded tap-in here.
Bukayo Saka looked a shadow of his usual self and struggled to find a way into the Senegal box
Harry Kane had got the Three Lions off to the perfect start with a finish from close range
SUBS
Morgan Gibbs-White (for Gordon, 58) – 6
Morgan Rogers (for Kane, 69) – 6
Curtis Jones (for Gallagher, 59) – 6
Jude Bellingham (for Rice, 71) – 6
Noni Madueke (for Saka, 71) – 6
SUBS NOT USED
Jordan Pickford
Reece James
Ezri Konsa
Jordan Henderson
Dan Burn
Ivan Toney
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Cole Palmer
James Trafford
England thought they had equalised through Jude Bellingham but the effort was harshly ruled out
Thomas Tuchel’s honeymoon as England boss is well and truly over, his men were brutally exposed in Nottingham
MANAGER
Thomas Tuchel – 5
The honeymoon is over as he showed his frustrations throughout on the touchline.
