Carroll at the double to lift the Hammers out of relegation zone
ANDY Carroll’s dramatic double lifted West Ham out of the relegation zone last night.
The Hammers were trailing fellow strugglers West Brom until two goals from their towering striker the second deep in stoppage time - secured a 2-1 win.
James McClean had given the Baggies a first-half lead, but Carroll equalised with a trademark header and then buried an angled shot to leave the Baggies languishing in the bottom three.
Albion boss Alan Pardew, still without a win from eight matches in charge, had wanted the Premier League to postpone this match as it came just two days after a gruelling 1-1 draw with Arsenal.
He is unlikely to have changed his mind after West Brom’s winless streak was stretched to 20 matches.
Shane Long’s first goal in 325 days was undermined by Crystal Palace once again coming from behind to secure three vital points in a 2-1 victory at Southampton.
The striker’s struggles in front of goal have characterised those of his team since the final weeks of the reign of former head coach Claude Puel.
Under Mauricio Pellegrino they have become contenders for relegation, and after falling to 16th place as Palace rose to 14th with finishes from James McArthur and Luka Milivojevic, their supporters chanted for the manager’s sacking.
Kevin De Bruyne made a dramatic return to action as Manchester City eased back to winning ways with a convincing 3-1 victory over Watford.
The Belgian did not score but was the main architect as the Premier League leaders overcame Sunday’s rare blip at Crystal Palace with strikes from Raheem Sterling - after less than a minute - Sergio Aguero and a Christian Kabasele own goal.
De Bruyne had been highly doubtful for the clash at the Etihad Stadium after being carried off in the goalless draw at Selhurst Park which ended City’s record-breaking run of 18 successive wins - but he played as if he had not been hurt at all.
Watford were outplayed by City for a second time this season, following a 6-0 hammering in September, but did manage a late consolation from Andre Gray on a cold and wet night.
The result did not seem in doubt from the moment Sterling prodded home the opener after just 38 seconds