CARROLL PENS HIS OWN PUNCHLINE
ANDY CARROLL scored for the first time since April Fool’s Day to spare West Ham the ignominy of becoming the punchline in a joke about too much rest in the festive fixture schedule. The Hammers trailed at half-time to a deflected goal scored by James McClean as West Brom defied their concerns about a second game in 48 hours. Carroll equalised and slid in the winning goal from an acute angle in stoppage time. David Moyes shook his team up at half-time, switched formation and Carroll finally contributed something to the season other than a debate about how much a jumping player needs to use his arms for leverage. West Brom are now winless in 20 league games but made a positive start. Salomon Rondon might have given then an early lead when he rolled easily away from Angelo Ogbonna and attempted to chip Adrian. The goalkeeper was marooned out of his goal but Rondon’s effort was wayward. Ben Foster reacted quickly to beat out a crisp half-volley by Manuel Lanzini at the other end when Albion failed to clear a cross from Pablo Zabaleta. The home side went behind on the half-hour. McClean moved inside from the left, drifted past Winston Reid and manoeuvred the ball back on to his left foot before taking aim from 25 yards. Ogbonna and Pedro Obiang made belated attempts to close him down but only managed to deflect the shot and leave Adrian helpless. West Ham were almost level within seconds of the restart when Carroll stretched to reach a cross from Marko Arnautovic but could not hit the target. Carroll did find the net when he climbed above Evans and Kieran Gibbs to meet a cross from Aaron Cresswell with a firm header. Both teams had chances to win it but it was Carroll who did for West Ham with a goal in stoppage time. The goalscoring hero said: ‘It has been a while since I started, but it was good to get on the pitch and get a goal and I am relieved. ‘It was a tough game. We are disappointed with the goal we gave away, but we had to keep the ball and keep pushing them and we did that and got the goals. ‘I was tired at the end, but if I didn’t get into the box I would have been given some stick by the staff.’