Wilshere's return aside, pre-match attention was focused on QPR substitute Anton Ferdinand's decision to wear a T-shirt in support of anti-racism group Kick It Out during the warm-up.
First, the experimental design used a treatment as usual comparison rather than a matched attention control condition, so it is impossible to determine the potential confounding effects of increased attention by trial staff in the experimental condition rather than the control condition.
Sam Tomkins, who had been at the centre of most pre-match attention before his big-money move to the New Zealand Warriors, was faultless, but mostly unspectacular.
The Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton then twice appeared to handle the ball in the box at the other end without being penalised, leaving the referee Michael Oliver to attract most of the post-match attention.
Inevitably, given his recent form, Gareth Bale will be the focus of much pre-match attention, though Scotland insist that level of attention will not continue beyond kick-off – "We will have a plan to deal with him," said their assistant manager, Mark McGhee, "but I don't think we will be man-marking him".
Most of the post-match attention focused on a number of controversial calls which went against St Helens in the second half but Smith preferred to focus on his side's progression to within 80 minutes of being crowned Super League champions for the first time.
"When the dust settles after the Gillingham match, attention will focus on the long-term future.
But, perhaps understandably, much of the pre-match attention was on Matthews - one of the finest English players of his, or any, generation.
But after all the pre-match attention on Carroll it was Cole, signed only on a short-term deal, who gave the Hammers a much-needed lift.
