Carroll delivers Hammer blow

WEST HAM secured a convincing win against German second division opponents Karlsruher as striker Andy Carroll made a scoring return in Austria. The England international missed the opening two fixtures of the tour but took just nine minutes to open his account.

Sofiane Feghouli and substitute Ashley Fletcher were also on the scoresheet.

Playing in their final friendly before Thursday’s Europa League clash with Slovenian side Domzale, the Hammers got off to a flyer when Enner Valencia floated a cross towards the head of Carroll, who finished it off emphatically at the far post.

It almost got even better for Slaven Bilic’s side moments later when Michail Antonio fought off the challenge of full-back Ylli Sallahi but he was denied by the legs of keeper Rene Vollath. However, West Ham did double their advantage in the 17th minute thanks tipped the effort over the bar.

Troy Deeney went close following another Anya cross in a frantic finish to the half – but the captain fired his shot inches wide of the post.

Mazzarri’s men were much improved after the restart as Jerome Sinclair’s penalty appeals were waved away.

Then a good move involving Ben Watson, Deeney and Sinclair set up Abdoulaye Doucoure but the midfielder failed to hit the target from the edge of the area.

Then – as the game began to show some promise – a host of substitutions midway through the second-half prevented any momentum from building and the game petered out into a stalemate. to a fierce low drive from distance by the impressive Feghouli. The Algerian was involved in another good move towards the end of the half as he flicked Antonio’s pass into the path of Ecuador international Valencia but his clever chip just missed the target. The second half began in a similar fashion to the first as the Hammers continued to dominate, with Havard Nordtveit almost converting Feghouli’s cross, while Valencia wasted a chance after a defensive error. Young striker Fletcher was introduced to the action with 15 minutes to go and made an instant impact, applying the finishing touch to Aaron Cresswell’s low cross from the left to secure a comfortable victory.