England fans enjoy first-half lead (From Bournemouth Echo)

England fans enjoy first-half lead

8:53pm Friday 15th June 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

Thousands of England fans have enjoyed the first half of the team's crucial Euro 2012 match against Sweden.

Andy Carroll justified his recall by heading England ahead in their Euro 2012 Group D encounter in Kiev.

The Liverpool striker broke the deadlock after 23 minutes when he headed home a pinpoint centre from skipper Steven Gerrard.

England were the more threatening and Swedish keeper Andreas Isaksson denied Scott Parker with a fine save before Carroll struck on his first competitive start for his country.

The game began 15 minutes later than planned to avoid a clash with France's 2-0 win over Ukraine in Donetsk, which was delayed by rain.

There were around 20,000 Swedish fans in the stadium, outnumbering the England contingent by a four-to-one ratio.