Lee Carsley’s tenure as England interim manager got off to a winning start with a 2-0 victory away to the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League.
Goals from Declan Rice and Jack Grealish, who both previously represented Ireland at various levels, proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Here, Mail Sport’s Craig Hope runs through some of the things you may have missed from the game at the Aviva Stadium.
VVIP holds journalists hostage
A group of us reporters were cutting it fine to make kick-off – and that was because we were locked in the press room to allow for Sir Keir Starmer’s motorcade to safely deposit the prime minister at the entrance reserved for dignitaries (no, we use the next door down).
He did sing the national anthem, by the way.
Sir Kier Starmer’s motorcade meant that some journalists had to wait in the press room
England interim manager Lee Carsley entered the wrong dugout at the Aviva Stadium
A fully-kitted fan – later revealed to be internet prankster Jarvo – ran onto the pitch and joined the England line-up prior to kick-off
Carsley’s almost caught out
Lee Carsley cannot catch a break. The interim boss emerged from the tunnel before kick-off and duly took his place in the dugout – the Ireland dugout, that is. He was soon told of his misstep, with the whole episode captured on camera.
As Carsley has learnt in just 24 hours, there is whole new level of scrutiny being the England boss.
An unwanted 12th man
England might have started with 12 men, after a fully-kitted fan ran onto the pitch and joined the line-up before kick-off.
Security spotted the intruder and he was led away, much to his annoyance. He genuinely thought he could do a job out there.
Frosty welcome for returning defectors
I used to cover Republic of Ireland for Mail Sport in the days when Martin O’Neill was manager. They were good days, too.
Declan Rice and Jack Grealish were subjected to a hostile reception from Ireland fans
But both of the former Ireland youth players managed to bag a goal in England colours
The home stands were replete with flags referring to the two players as snakes – and were likely not best pleased by the scoreline
So when I walked back into the Aviva Stadium, one of my old Irish comrades was quick to liken me to Declan Rice.
That was a joke (I think) but the treatment handed out to Rice by the locals was not so friendly, including a banner carrying his and Jack Grealish’s pictures with the slogan, ‘The snakes are back’.
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