Blues duo Sammie Szmodics and Dara O’Shea started for the Republic of Ireland as they were beaten 5-0 in a final Nations League game of two halves against England at Wembley.
Ireland had impressed in the first period, preventing the Three Lions from managing a single shot on target.
However, the game changed in the 51st minute when Celtic’s Liam Scales was dismissed for a second bookable offence having brought down Jude Bellingham inside the box.
Harry Kane dispatched the penalty and England scored twice more within five minutes - via Anthony Gordon and Conor Gallagher - to all but seal the victory. Jarrod Bowen and Taylor Harwood-Bellis added the fourth and fifth.
Szmodics, who was winning his 10th full cap, suffered what initially looked to be a serious injury in the first half but the problem was ultimately revealed to be a cut and the 29-year-old was able to carry on until the 86th minute.
O’Shea, who was winning his 32nd full international cap, played the full 90 minutes at right-back and picked up a late yellow card.
The result had little impact on Ireland, who were destined to finish third in the group however the game ended, while England confirmed top spot.