GARETH Southgate praised the performance of Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton and former Claret Kieran Trippier during England's 3-2 defeat to France.

Clarets captain Heaton was winning his third cap for the Three Lions but making his first start, while Trippier was earning his first senior cap.

Heaton played the first 45 minutes and although he was beaten twice both goals were follow-ups from impressive saves he had made.

Right-back Trippier, now at Tottenham, played 76 minutes and turned in an assured display for his first international appearance.

"Both players [Kieran Trippier and Tom Heaton] had some good moments,” said England boss Southgate.

"There were some definite positive individual performances. I thought Raheem Sterling caused a lot of problems in his position and Harry Kane, the first 50-60 minutes, really led the line well."

A draining season came to a surprisingly entertaining end in Paris, where captain Kane netted an early opener at the end of a fluid Three Lions move.

However, Didier Deschamps' thrilling young side turned things around before the break thanks to Samuel Umtiti and Djibril Sidibe, then made light of the controversy and confusion that followed the first use of a video assistant referee in an England match.

Raphael Varane was sent off before a penalty was fired home by Kane, with Les Bleus rallying as Ousmane Dembele capped a fine display by wrapping up a 3-2 victory that left Southgate frustrated.

"We should have got a result," he said.

"In the space of 90 minutes we saw the things we're very good at - with the ball we caused a lot of problems, created good openings, took our first goal very well.

"And equally we saw the things that have to get better - defending as a team and managing the game, in particular the period once France had gone down to 10 men.

"I thought we looked more anxious while they went to 10 and they stepped up a level. We just didn't manage that period of the game as well as we need to.

"I thought part of that was because we were tired, I think we put a huge amount into the game to try and press and to deal with the physical capabilities France had - and it was a problem for us all night, their pace and their athleticism."