Lee Carsley’s time as caretaker manager of England got off to a successful start with a 2-0 Nations League win over Ireland.
Goals from Declan Rice and Jack Grealish, both of whom previously played for Ireland at different levels, proved to be the difference between the two teams.
Mail Sport’s Craig Hope looks at some of the things you may have missed from the match at the Aviva Stadium.
VVIP holds journalists hostage
A group of reporters were busy trying to get to kick-off, as we were locked into the press room so that Sir Keir Starmer’s motorcade could safely drop the Prime Minister off at the dignitary entrance (no, we use the door next door).
By the way, he did sing the national anthem.
Sir Kier Starmer’s motorcade left some journalists waiting in the press room
England interim manager Lee Carsley stepped into the wrong dugout at the Aviva Stadium
A fully kitted out fan – later revealed to be internet prankster Jarvo – ran onto the pitch and joined the England squad before kick-off
Carsley almost got caught
Lee Carsley can’t catch a break. The interim boss emerged from the tunnel before kick-off and took his place in the dugout – the Ireland dugout, that is. He was quickly told of his misstep, with the entire episode caught on camera.
As Carsley learned in just 24 hours, the control of being England manager is a whole other level.
An unwanted 12th man
England were expected to start with 12 men after a fully kitted out fan ran onto the pitch and joined the line-up before kick-off.
Security spotted the intruder and he was escorted away, much to his annoyance. He really thought he could do a job there.
Cool welcome for returning defectors
I covered the Republic of Ireland for Mail Sport when Martin O’Neill was manager. Those were good times too.
Declan Rice and Jack Grealish received a hostile reception from the Irish fans
But both former Irish youth players managed to score a goal in England colours
The home stands were full of flags referring to the two players as snakes – and were probably not very happy with the score
As I walked back to the Aviva Stadium, one of my old Irish mates immediately compared me to Declan Rice.
That was a joke (I think), but the treatment Rice received from the locals was not exactly friendly, with banners hanging up with pictures of him and Jack Grealish and the slogan: ‘The snakes are back’.