England manager Thomas Tuchel was keeping warm in the posh seats at Selhurst Park and he was not the only neutral with a keen eye on this fixture.
Manchester United power-brokers would have been maintaining a watching brief as the two managers in the dugout, Oliver Glasner and Unai Emery, have been touted as potential candidates for their vacancy in the summer.
In truth, Tuchel might have struggled to stay awake as this dull game devoid of drama ticked on, while fans at home might have been better watching The Traitors on the other channel.