West Ham continue fine form with 3-1 win over Swansea

Andy Carroll didn’t have the best memories against Swansea prior to this match. Last season in the same fixture, the centre forward was sent off as the Hammers recorded a 2-0 victory with Kevin Nolan bagging a brace.

Having not scored, or laid on an assist all season, the 25-year-old struck twice and set up Diafra Sakho as West Ham cruised to a 3-1 victory at Upton Park; a result which albeit temporarily lifted them to third in the Premier League.

From start to finish, you couldn’t take your eye off the action. The Hammers dominated, and Carroll was making a handful of himself within the first couple of minutes, though it wasn’t the start they would have wanted.

Possibly Swansea’s best move of the match ended in a goal, against the run of play. Gylfi Sigurdsson got in behind the defence, after playing a one-two, and squared for Wilfried Bony who dispatched to put the visitors into the lead after 20 minutes.

Not long before half time, the Hammers were level. A superb cross from Carl Jenkinson, who was relentless throughout after going off in the second half with hamstring trouble, found Carroll, whose header whizzed across goal into the top corner.

The second half started as the first had ended; the home side pushing to take advantage. Just after the hour, they were ahead, Stewart Downing floating a ball in from a corner, and Carroll was there again, unmarked to nod in once more, despite Leon Brittain who had left his post, helping it on its way.

Moments later, it was disaster for Swansea with the Hammers in pursuit of a third, sent Sakho through on goal, though Swans keeper Lukasz Fabianski rushed off his line, and was adjudged to have fouled the striker, who played on and hit the post from an acute angle.

Play was brought back for a free kick, and the custodian was subsequently dismissed. However, three minutes before the 90 mark, Sakho got his reward for persisting. A flick on from Carroll found the path of the Ecuadorian who smashed home ruthlessly past substitute keeper Gerhard Tremmel, as the match finished 3-1 to Sam Allardyce’s side.