CARROLL’S STRIKE
TV NIGHTMARE: West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady looks on at the London Stadium and her tweet that angered Hammers fans last night ANDY CARROLL grabbed a last-minute equaliser to break Stoke’s hearts.
The Potters had led through fellow supersub Peter Crouch’s 79th-minute strike when he pounced on another clanger from Joe Hart.
Crouch scored from close range after the England keeper had spilled a 20-yard shot from Xherdan Shaqiri.
But Carroll superbly swept home a cross from Aaron Cresswell to leave Stoke rooted in 19th spot.
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate was in the stands checking out two of Jordan Pickford’s rivals for the England No.1 shirt and left more impressed with Stoke keeper Jack Butland.
He did his cause no harm, setting a record for shots saved in the Premier League this season.
But even West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady didn’t seem to want people tuning in to watch what was a largely forgettable game.
Just before kick-off, Brady, already unpopular with many Hammers fans, tweeted: “15mins until my new show Give it a Year starts on ITV, hope you watch it and hope you enjoy it!”
But Southgate ignored her advice to pay a timely visit to the London Stadium instead.
Butland has been busier than Hart this season, with the latter spending large chunks of it on the bench.
And Butland, who hopes to start at the World Cup in Russia this summer, was quickly into the action here too. He did well to deny Arthur Masuaku, former Potter Marko Arnautovic and Cresswell as the home side made the faster start.
Stoke had half-chances, too, but began retreating deeper and deeper into their own territory.
Paul Lambert’s side have been one of the easiest to play against all season and they looked there for the taking as the Hammers stroked the ball around with ease.
Struggled
West Ham won the reverse fixture 3-0 in December to end their eight-match winless run and the two teams have gone in different directions ever since.
As so often in this stadium, though, they struggled to turn their dominance into goals and frustration started to grow among the home fans.
Arnautovic wasted another good chance by firing well wide before he smashed one right into Butland’s face.
He didn’t know much about it but it was the 124th save he has had to make in the league in this campaign.
You couldn’t say Stoke weren’t trying. Their four shots on target before the