In his final game before he is confirmed as England boss tomorrow afternoon, Steve McClaren watched with pride as his young Middlesbrough side collected a hard-earned point from their encounter with Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.
Adam Johnson's first senior goal two minutes after the restart offered the Teessiders hope of snatching a shock win, only for Ricardo Vaz Te to level with a well-taken header shortly afterwards.
In what would have been billed as a battle between the key contenders to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson had the FA selection panel not already determined McClaren is to be their man, the Boro boss could therefore claim a moral victory over Sam Allardyce, who now require Chelsea to avoid defeat at Newcastle on Sunday to keep them in contention for an Intertoto Cup place.
McClaren's name will be recommended to the board by the selection panel and an announcement is expected tomorrow afternoon with McClaren likely to be officially paraded as Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor on Friday.
The appointment should be a matter of rubber-stamping as four members of the selection panel are also on the board, including the main powerbrokers from the professional game Dave Richards and David Dein.
The issue is unlikely even to go to a vote. The six board members from the amateur side of football should be broadly supportive of having an Englishman in charge and so, unless there are any objections, the appointment will just be waved through.
One member of the six-man selection panel said: "The board actually makes the decision but the panel have recommended Steve McClaren be appointed as the next England manager.
"We have to wait until tomorrow (Thursday) but it would be an almighty surprise if the recommendation was not acted upon."
The appointment will please those who wish to see continuity in the England camp - McClaren has worked as one of Eriksson's assistant coaches and the Swede said there would be no problem working with the 45-year-old at the World Cup.
"It will be no problem at all," said Eriksson. "I have always said he's an extremely good coach and he has always done an extremely good job for us."
If there is any disagreement at the board meeting it is likely to focus on the selection process, for there has been criticism of FA chief executive Brian Barwick for insisting three months ago that an appointment would be made before the World Cup.
The saga with Scolari was an embarrassment as well, and there have even been calls in some quarters for Barwick to quit.
His position is not under threat however - the benefit to him of finding Eriksson's successor by committee is that most of those who would have the power to force him out were also part of the selection process.
McClaren is also set to be asked to head a team of other English coaches to work with England. Stuart Pearce and Alan Curbishley have both been discussed by the selection panel as potential assistants.
