Empty seats as Nicklas Bendtner of Denmark scores his side's fifth goal from the penalty spot

Ireland fans have reacted angrily as hundreds of supporters left the Aviva Stadium up to 20 minutes before the final whistle in last night's Danish pasting.

Christian Eriksen produced a masterclass, scoring a sensational hat-trick as the Danes strolled to a 5-1 victory over Martin O'Neill's startled Boys In Green.

While the ground shook with a raucous and passionate atmosphere before the match and for most of the first-half, there was a noticeable stream of supporters heading for the exits when Eriksen smashed home his second and the Danes' third in the 72nd minute.

Former Westlife singer Brian McFadden was among them.

"When Eriksen put in that third, my heart was just ripped out of my chest and I had to leave," McFadden told RTE Radio.

But many fans have vented their anger at those who chose to leave such a big game before the final whistle.

"We were 3-1 down and fans were streaming out. What is that all about?" Mark from Dublin told Independent.ie.

Never mind the fact we still had some hope of clawing it back, but tickets for this game were so hard to get and some fans chose to leave after 70 minutes. The so called best fans in the world don't leave after 70 minutes.

"And this just a few days after Copenhagen. Denmark away was a huge disappointment from a fans' point of view. Most of the tickets ended up with event junkies who never actually go to Ireland games.

"There were so many too drunk to know there was a game going on and there were even fans with six or eight tickets and they were touting them to fellow Ireland fans. How can this happen when tickets were so hard to get and well travelled fans who had been to six aways in the last two campaigns couldn't get a ticket?"

Irish "fans" leaving the stadium tonight on 65 minutes. Ye should all be ashamed of yourselves. A sad day for me as a proud Irish man. Fathers taking kids out too. Disgraceful @RTEsoccer @offtheball @FAIreland — Gary O Hanlon (@gazzachef) November 14, 2017 Fans leaving early on way to Victoria's Secret on Grafton Street, stopping en route to change tyres — Dave Hannigan (@daveyhannigan) November 14, 2017 As an aside very disappointing to see 'so called' fans leaving the stadium early - and i don't mean after 80 mins as lots of empty seats with 20 mins ago — Barry Moylan (@moylanb) November 14, 2017 Well don't to the true irish fans leaving the match early. Thanks for taking up the tickets lads. Stay away in future. — Mick Q (@mikequinlanlaw) November 14, 2017 second half has been miserable from us, only thing worse is the fans leaving early & the empty stadium — Naomh (@naomhgallagher) November 14, 2017 Lots of people leaving the aviva stadium early, best fans in the world? — Michael O'Brien (@mickeypob) November 14, 2017

Online Editors