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Andy Carroll proves his worth to West Ham with match-winning double against West Brom

West Ham United 2 West Bromwich Albion 1: The forward, who hadn't scored in nine months, netted twice to see the hosts overturn the Baggies' lead and clinch all three points

Jack Pitt-Brooke
London Stadium
Tuesday 02 January 2018 21:38 GMT
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Andy Carroll celebrates after heading home an equaliser for the hosts
Andy Carroll celebrates after heading home an equaliser for the hosts

Without a goal since April, without two in one game for almost a year, without a start in six weeks, and hardly ever looking sharp, fresh or dangerous: the signs were not good here at the London Stadium for Andy Carroll. For David Moyes to start him in this crucial match, against a West Bromwich Albion side they had to beat, it felt like a speculative roll of the dice from a manager short of ideas. In the first half, as Carroll and his team mates struggled and went behind, it looked like a losing one.

But against all expectations, against the form-book and against the run of play, Andy Carroll produced a classic Andy Carroll second half, scoring two big goals to earn West Ham a 2-1 win that transforms their festive haul of points. The equaliser was a vintage header, taking out two defenders as he hurtled through the air. The winner, in stoppage time, slotted in at the far post. After a 2017 in which he barely had any real impact on the pitch, 2018 could not have begun any better.

Because for West Ham not to win this game would have been a disaster. They were at home against West Brom, and they had six more days to prepare than Alan Pardew’s side did. But they produced nothing of note in the first half and went behind to James McClean’s 20-yard shot that looped off Pedro Obiang and in. West Brom have not won in the league since August – 20 games ago – but had they held onto their lead here they would have climbed one point above West Ham, who would have been second from bottom. Moyes’ men travel to Wembley on Thursday for a game that will be far harder than this one.

Pablo Zabaleta attempts to dispossess James McClean

West Ham were crying out for Carroll to get into the game and give them something to believe in. One minute into the first half he got on the end of Marko Arnautovic’s cross but flashed the ball over from close range. But just when it felt like the game might drift away from West Ham, unless Carroll were replaced, he produced a moment reminiscent of his very best.

Aaron Cresswell, moved to full-back as West Ham switched to a back four, found himself some space on the left. He stood up a cross to the far post. Carroll hurtled at it, cleared out Kieran Gibbs and Jonny Evans, and thumped his header into the net. It was a goal that only he could have scored, not quite as good as that famous leap against Sweden in Euro 2012, but not far off.

James McClean celebrates after putting West Brom ahead

“It was a great centre-forward’s header, that was as good as it gets,” said David Moyes afterwards. “I was a centre-back, and I don’t think you can stop his leap and his jump.”

There is something about Carroll that appeals to football fans and now that he was back in the game the home crowd woke up. West Ham continued to squeeze forward as West Brom tired physically and mentally. They found it harder to stop the attacks and Manuel Lanzini slid a pass through to Arnautovic who should have won the game. West Ham offered space on the break and when Oliver Burke raced through he should have been more decisive, rather than allowing Angelo Ogbonna to catch him up.

Cheikhou Kouyate and Pedro Obiang react after falling a goal behind

That was a decisive moment, which could have delivered West Brom’s first league win since August. Because the next time West Ham attacked early in added time they got through. Lanzini played in Arnautovic down the left, he whipped in a cross and there was Carroll at the far post to slot home. This was West Ham’s first win from behind at the London Stadium and they celebrated with the glee of players and fans who felt that they had gotten away with it.

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