Perhaps Lee Carsley was just too focused in the opening minutes of his first game as caretaker England manager, because when the manager arrived at his desk before kick-off and, yes, the national anthems, he turned right instead of left and sat on the Republic of Ireland bench.

Old habits die hard for the former Ireland midfielder and he looked baffled when the error was pointed out to him and he was shown his correct place. But if this seemed like a bad omen, no one in England need have worried.

As promised, Carsley kept a straight face during God Save the King’s game, but what certainly excited him as he began his six-game audition for the permanent position was his team’s performance in the first half.

It was clear from the start that it would be a torrid moment for Declan Rice and Jack Grealish, former Irish internationals who later switched sides. Carsley was also booed by the home crowd. But it was Rice and Grealish who scored the goals that put England in control before half-time. They were the most eye-catching players in this impressive period, enabling England to secure a comfortable victory in a rather mediocre second half.

England were notoriously sluggish at Euro 2024 under Gareth Southgate, despite reaching the final, and Carsley needed a performance rather than a result here. He certainly delivered that in the first half. A new era has been laid.

The first loud boos for Rice and Grealish were heard when the teams were read out about 40 minutes before kick-off and there were only a few fans in the stadium. “The queues are back,” read a banner on the home team’s seats. And then, of course, there was Carsley and the anthem scandal.

Carsley, who would never sing, felt the pressure of the TV cameras and there must have been moments during that very special England storm when he reflected that football is just one part of his new role. How does that make him feel?

The game was much more important than it would have been before Southgate’s managerial move, with Carsley the centre of attention. “Lee, you are just one result away from becoming an Irish legend,” read a poster from a bookmaker looking to snatch freebies.

The decibel level rose sharply every time Rice or Grealish had the ball, but neither of them let up. From a distance. Grealish, playing on the left of a central midfield trio, demanded the ball from the first whistle, wanted to carry it, invite the tackles and also the confrontations, and it just had to be Rice with the decisive goal.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was outstanding in the early stages, moving from right-back into midfield and measuring his passing range. He had already played a free-kick to Harry Kane – the captain headed high – when he sent Anthony Gordon through on goal. Caoimhín Kelleher parried but Gordon took advantage and crossed low to Kane, who was stopped by Nathan Collins’ blocking tackle. When the ball broke through, Rice fired high into the net.

Ireland had picked up the pace a little in the first few minutes. Jayson Molumby headed over from a corner; Sammie Szmodics tackled Jordan Pickford. They tried to put pressure on, but the technical difference was quickly apparent. Carsley could be pleased with England’s handling of the ball. They found space in front of the Irish defence and in the channels, Gordon was a threat on the left. The movements and rotations were fluid.

Carsley gave Rice the No.8 role on the right, Kobbie Mainoo held out in front of the back four, and Rice had fun when he could lengthen his stride. There were 15 minutes on the clock when he led a box-to-box counterattack and fed Gordon, who crossed to Kane. It looked like a routine close-range finish for Kane, but Kelleher made a superb save.

Rice’s celebration after his goal was controlled and subdued. Not so that of Grealish, who enjoyed the applause of the English fans behind the goal. Rice was central to the build-up play, playing a one-two with Mainoo and then with Bukayo Saka before crossing low to Grealish, who shot into the far corner with his right foot.

Gordon could have scored after half an hour with another sharp move from England, and at half-time there were boos from the Irish fans for another reason: they were frustrated with their team.

The mood was noticeably more somber when the second half restarted. It was difficult to detect any pre-match optimism among the Irish fans and it seemed as if they had realised that they could be in for a long second half. Irish football is at an extremely low point; everyone is feeling the effects of years of disappointment.

New coach Heimir Hallgrímsson needed a fresh impetus and just before the hour mark he changed Szmodics’ position, moving him from the wing inside and closer to striker Adam Idah. Szmodics had some good moments, most notably when he fired a shot wide after a back pass from Chiedozie Ogbene. He also set up Molumby, who shot wildly.

England’s intensity dropped and it felt like Carsley had to make substitutions. Oddly, he waited until the 76th minute to make a triple substitution, bringing on Angel Gomes and Morgan Gibbs-White for their debuts. One of the players he took off was Grealish, who applauded the England fans and slowly walked away. He had been enjoying himself.

England could have scored again. Substitute Jarrod Bowen was denied twice by Kelleher, the second time from very close range, and the goalkeeper also made a skilful save against Saka. England and Carsley had had enough.