LITTLE PEA IN.. PEA BRAIN OUT

Hernandez gets the nod to take ‘stupid’ Carroll’s place TOP OF THE RED CARD LEAGUE

JAVIER HERNANDEZ has been given the chance to solve West Ham’s striking crisis by replacing “stupid” Andy Carroll in his most effective position tonight.

The Hammers host Brighton without the suspended Carroll – who, on Saturday, became their 12th red-card offender since Slaven Bilic took over in June 2015.

No team has had more players sent off over the same timescale and Carroll was slapped with a £180,000 fine for elbowing two Burnley players, just 100 seconds apart, last week.

Fellow forward Diafra Sakho has been ruled out with a back injury and Hernandez himself is a doubt because of a hamstring niggle.

But Bilic is convinced the Mexico marksman will be fit to start and plans to play him in the central striking role that has brought him 49 international goals.

“Chicharito” – or Little Pea – has often been employed out wide, instead of inside the box, during his short time at West Ham, but Bilic insisted there had been a good reason for that. He said: “People saw him once playing out wide or saw the line-up on Sky and thought, ‘Why is he playing there?’.

“The bigger reason is that, for a few games, we were without a lot of creativity in the middle of the park. We weren’t up the pitch enough to get him the service.

“Like any other striker, that made him a bit frustrated and he was leaving his position to get the ball. Now, with most of the players back, he can enjoy the games more. I am very excited.”

Carroll has apologised for his red card at Burnley and Marko Arnautovic’s dismissal at Southampton in August had also been for violent use of an elbow.

But Bilic is adamant West Ham should not be viewed as a dirty team.

He said: “None of these red cards were from a typical lack of discipline. Nobody headbutted anyone.

“Andy’s one was basically stupid. But many of them we appealed and they were overturned – three or four, or even five, were completely big mistakes from the referees.”

Bilic made it clear, however, that he would not tolerate a repeat of Carroll’s or Arnautovic’s antics.

He said: “I spoke to both of them and it is unacceptable. It cannot happen again.”