Analysing Andy Carroll’s leading role in West Ham’s win over Crystal Palace

Add as preferred source on Google

In a week of doom and gloom for all of those associated with West Ham United, an unlikely source provided welcome respite and gave the Hammers something to smile about during their win over Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.

It’s fair to say that it’s been a horror show of a season for Slaven Bilic’s side this year; the move to London Stadium has seemingly put a strain on the club and they’ve struggled to reproduce last season’s form, they were out of the Europa League before it really began and now Dmitri Payet has turned around and said he will refuse to put a West Ham shirt on ever again.

Heading into their home clash with Crystal Palace Bilic needed someone to stand up for the club, and his side certainly did just that – with one man in particular shining above most.

Perhaps most known for his aerial presence and heading ability, Andy Carroll produced one of the moments of the season so far during his side’s win over Palace, meeting Antonio’s cross with a simply sensational scissored volley into the top corner – words honestly struggle to describe it.

In a month that has seen us treated to two scorpion kick goals, Carroll somehow managed to go one better, and if you haven’t seen it yet I strongly advise you watch it below.

The technique involved was simply astounding, and the power that he managed to get from a standing start is unlike anything seen for a long, long time – it was such a powerful strike that it had already hit the back of the net before Wayne Hennessey had dived for it, it was that good.

It’s his wonder-goal that will take the headlines and all the plaudits, and rightly so, but up until this point in the second-half the tall England forward had been leading by example from the front.

In the first-half he had a glorious chance to open the scoring from ten-yards out, meeting a cross with a flick that only just cleared the bar, and early in the second-half he twice lashed just wide of the Crystal Palace goal – you could sense that he was in the mood, riled up by the week’s events.

Embed from Getty Images

After playing in West Ham’s opening match of the season against Chelsea, Carroll didn’t feature for twelve consecutive games as he coped with his injury and loss of form – yet since his re-introduction to the side over Christmas, he’s been running up some good form which will delight Hammers’ fans.

His goal was his third of the season, lifting them up to 12^th in the Premier League table within touching distance of the top half – could it be a turning point in West Ham’s season?

With every Hammers’ player used to looking to Payet to inspire magical moments on the field, in the unlikely shape of Andy Carroll they could have found themselves someone even better.

Featured Image: All rights reserved by Iana2021.