da betsul： Last night witnessed a Premier League first for West Ham – their first-ever comeback at the London Stadium, inspired by what had appeared an unlikely source in Andy Carroll.
da fazobetai： The towering frontman hadn’t found a top flight goal since April, hadn’t started a Premier League game since November and endured the kind of first half that raised the inevitable question of whether the club could truly justify it’s long-standing faith in such an injury-prone striker when form while fit couldn’t always be guaranteed.
But as the Hammers looked to hit back from their one-goal deficit to West Brom in the second-half and confound the Leo Vegas odds, the other side to Andy Carroll came to life – the side that makes him an invaluable match-winner for a club like West Ham, especially during a season as turbulent as this one, and makes him one of the most unplayable forces in the Premier League.
Just before the hour mark, the 28-year-old rose above two West Brom defenders to head home an Aaron Cresswell cross from close range, and with ten minutes to go, Carroll completed his side’s – and his own personal comeback – by sliding in at the far post to tuck away Marko Arnautovic’s pass. Come the final whistle, Carrol’s influence on the match was undeniable; two goals from four shots, two chances created for team-mates, seven successful aerial duels and six touches in the opposition box.
Now one point and two places clear of the relegation zone, Carroll’s late brace could be looked back upon at a defining moment in West Ham’s season, one that transforms the campaign from one of fearing relegation to one of cautious optimism of sneaking into the top half by the end of May. But there’s one West Ham player the comeback does spell bad news for – summer signing Javier Hernandez.
Although he came on from the bench against the Baggies, finding a way to fit the former Manchester United striker, who Transfermarkt value at £16.2million, into the team has been a constant headache in east London this season.
While there are still doubts over which system suits Hernandez best, Carroll has proved he successfully can lead the line within the confines of David Moyes’ game-plan.