Theo Walcott came off the bench to galvanise England from 2-1 down to defeat Sweden in their second Group D match at Euro 2012.
England's band were back blowing their own trumpet to much disdain, but their shrills were overawed by the fervent minority of the Three Lions' contingent against their Swedish counterparts.
Sweden's contingent outnumbered England by over four-to-one in Kiev's Olympic Stadium like yolk splattering over egg white, but the 3,000 minority who were present witnessed just a second England win from seven tournament fixtures.
Although England didn't possess the gutsy positivity they began with against France, their opponents' lack of confidence still seemed to linger from their opening defeat to Ukraine.
Labelled "cowards" by coach Erik Hamren, he sought to infuse them with bravery by partnering Zlatan Ibrahimovic with Johan Elmander, but it was England who showed potency.
Scott Parker's fizzing strike was well saved by Andreas Isaksson before Andy Carroll, in for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, was on the same wavelength as club team-mate Gerrard to execute a superb header in the 23rd minute.
England's third consecutive goal at a major finals had been assisted by their captain, and the Liverpool midfielder's open play delivery was in sync with Carroll's clever movement, as he nestled between Olof Mellberg and Andreas Granqvist.
However Hodgson's side reverted to reticence. Rather than probe for the second goal, England sat back cautiously and withdrew deeper and deeper despite Joe Hart rarely being threatened, as they successfully retained their lead at the interval.
That warning wasn't heeded four minutes into the second half though. Carroll hadn't learned either when he crudely fouled Kim Kallstrom, offering Ibrahimovic an opportunity at goal just outside of the D.
Although the free-kick was blocked, the ball was scrambled into the path of Mellberg, whose effort was parried by Hart but onto Glen Johnson's frame. The right-back frantically attempted to clear the ball off the line but only managed to hit it onto the post and into the back of the net.
Buoyed by levelling, Sweden rediscovered their confidence as England capitulated in Kiev. A set-piece floated in by Seb Larsson found Mellberg embarrassingly unmarked in the six-yard box, and he nodded in convincingly for a 2-1 lead.
Hodgson introduced Walcott to inject some energy for the laborious James Milner, and England suddenly played positively. Johnson, a superior asset in attack than defence, crossed expertly for John Terry, who was denied superbly by a one-handed save from Isaksson with the goal gaping.
From the resultant corner though, the ex-Manchester City goalkeeper wasn't as secure. Walcott took one touch and clipped a central strike goalwards which surreally nestled into the back of the net without the aid of a deflection, as Isaksson watched on forlornly.
The three-goal-glut inside 19 minutes of the re-start settled the pace down again. Ibrahimovic tested Hart with a swerving shot whilst Gerrard and Carroll twice overlooked the option of Walcott when favourably poised.
But then Glen Johnson did use the right-winger, whose burst of pace took him past Larsson and Jonas Olsson before he crossed in for Danny Welbeck, who ended a frustrating evening with a classily flicked finish for the winner.
