England 2 Wales 1: Five things we learned as Roy Hodgson's second-half adrenaline rush reaps its due rewards

England 2 Wales 1: Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge complete rescue act to get England back on track in Group B as their manager throws caution to the wind

Daniel Sturridge wheels away in delight as England celebrate his last-gasp winner in Lens (Getty)

Elder statesman Hodgson still learning

England appear to have finally grown accustomed to the boom or bust nature of major tournaments. The leitmotif of the so-called 'Battle of Britain' in Lens, St George versus the red dragon, was inescapable throughout. Bubbling underneath was the more tangible fear that defeat could lead to another early exit. After allowing similar insecurities to consume them in the past, it remains to be seen if goals from Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge can unshackle them from the woes of yesteryear.

As they had done against Russia on Saturday night, Roy Hodgson’s well-meaning troupe started dynamically but lacked ruthlessness in the early exchanges. The boos which echoed around the Stade Bollaert-Delelis at half-time, joined by a gleeful rendition of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, added to a fraught scenario as Hodgson slumped deeper into his seat. While there was more madness than method to his kitchen sink riposte to Gareth Bale's opener, the 68-year-old nonetheless deserted his conservative roots to prove old dogs can learn new tricks.

Wales celebrate after Bale opens the scoring (Getty)

Underestimate Bale at your peril

Even if Joe Hart hadn’t suffered a leave of his senses just before the break, Bale was destined to have a considerable say in proceedings in Lens. Jonny Williams, his Welsh team-mate, has heralded the Real Madrid forward’s effulgent free-kicks as being almost as useful to them as penalties. Slovakia learned the hard way at the weekend but Hodgson downplayed his talents as irrelevant this week. Public statements rarely reflect a manager’s true musings, of course, but the blasé nature in which England treated Bale appears somewhat flawed in hindsight.

Bale's ability to hit the ball with unorthodox swerve and dip should have prompted more protection but just three men were put in the wall to protect Hart's bottom left corner. In an instant, England were faced with the task of defying the history books. Never before had they overturned a half-time deficit at a major tournament. Hodgson was bold enough to change things, hauling off the ineffective Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane. Seldom have England looked so dangerous under Hodgson - and vulnerable - but he got his due rewards.

Jamie Vardy turns the ball into the back of the net (Getty)

Vardy writes new chapter to save Hodgson

After Sterling and Kane had spurned enough chances to prompt the hashtag #VardyWouldHaveScoredThat to trend on Twitter, the substitute needed just three touches to script another twist to his upcoming film. The European public have expressed bafflement at Jamie Vardy’s 135 minute expulsion from the England side, wondering how one of the most prolific poachers in world football can be muzzled on the bench.

After practising a conservative, risk-management brand of football for so long, Hodgson defied his reputation to match Vardy up front with Sturridge and 18-year-old Marcus Rashford in a three-pronged forward line. Using tools too often neglected beforehand, the former Fulham boss was undoubtedly fighting for his job, staring into an abyss partly of his own making. If this rush of adrenaline continues into the coming weeks, however, this latest reprieve may prove to be a long one.

Gareth Bale strikes a free-kick that England goalkeeper Joe Hart can only palm into the net (Getty)

Wales well equipped to progress

Ahead for 56 minutes, Wales were executing a game plan fine-tuned over four years under manager Chris Coleman. The expertly manoeuvred victory against Slovakia at the weekend afforded Coleman with the freedom to hoist up the shutters and use Bale on the counter. To beat Wales, you have to overload their defence, stymying them into submission down the flanks. Hodgson’s bout of second-half endeavour appeared to stun Coleman, momentarily paralysing his side and forcing them to man the barricades.

Wayne Rooney, while assured in his new central role, too often forces England to play diagonally, curtailing the cut-throat football required to see off sides like Wales. England were territorially dominant, pushed forward by the brilliant Kyle Walker. The pressure eventually told told. Though, this is far from the end for Wales. There is enough fight - and quality - in Coleman's squad to suggest a successful month lies ahead.

Joe Hart kisses the England badge (Getty)

Best of British defies the worst

As the tear gas clears across the Lens skyline, finally England’s name will appear in print for positive reasons. The unrelenting stream of footage featuring a tossed beer bottle here or a rampaging mob there has sullied the atmosphere for some. The feet of Messrs Vardy and Sturridge, however, offer some light relief and will temporarily return focus to what truly matters.

The two sets of supporters contributed to a raucous, but friendly, mood in northern France - one unrivalled by any we’ve seen so far, even from the hosts. Stadia at tournaments of this magnitude often lack the volume and romance of the every day back home but the 41,229 capacity Stade Bollaert-Delelis could easily have been mistaken for Villa Park or White Hart Lane on Thursday afternoon. After the unnerving images of the last week, Hart's redemption, Vardy's fairy-tale and Roy's relief will be prevalent motifs today - and not the actions of a drunken minority.