An Andy Carroll brace and a late goal from his replacement Jonathan Calleri secured West Ham all three points in a 3-1 victory at the Riverside against relegation-threatened Middlesbrough.
Boro went into this game on the back of two 0-0 league draws in just as many games. The Premier League’s lowest scorers re-introduced Traore to the starting XI as they went in the hunt for more attacking flare. New signing Patrick Bamford made the bench.
For West Ham, it’s been yet another week dominated by speculation linking Dimitri Payet with a move away from the club. Unsurprisingly, the Frenchman was omitted from the squad for the second league game in a row.
That was not a problem for Bilic’s side during their last fixture, as they battered Crystal Palace 3-0 at the Olympic Stadium.
Andy Carroll stole the show that day with a sublime goal of the season contender.
And it didn’t take long for the former Newcastle United man to open the scoring at the Riverside. Aaron Cresswell had been causing all sorts of problems down the left-hand side for Calum Chambers and in the eighth-minute of the match, the away side won the game’s first corner-kick. From which Mark Noble whipped in a wonderful cross for Andy Carroll to head home in emphatic style.
That early goal set the first-half a light at the Riverside. It was end-to-end action from that point and both sides had penalty appeals turned down just before the 20th-minute. Mark Noble will feel slightly unlucky to not see one awarded after Bernardo brought him down inside the box.
But the lead didn’t last very long for West Ham. Stuani had already scored against the Hammers in the reverse fixture, and in the 26th-minute the Uruguayan once again tapped home against West Ham, finishing off a Calum Chambers cross to end a wonderfully worked bit of play from Boro.
That then sparked Boro into life, Karanka’s side then dominated the game with pacey winger Traore causing havoc up against the West Ham United defence.
However, after struggling to make the most of some fantastic play from the former Barcelona man, West Ham took the lead once again just moments before half time.
It was a terrific counter-attack from Bilic’s men in which Andy Carroll grabbed his second of the game for the away side.
Antonio ran almost the full length of the pitch before letting fly from 25-yards out, the shot was spilled by Victor Valdes into the path of an onrushing Carroll who tapped home to restore the hammers lead going into the break.
Although the second half wasn’t full of goals like the first, it certainly did lack in entertainment.
Boro v West Ham stats at Half time pic.twitter.com/5KyoB1t5IJ #westhamfc #hammers
The away side started the better of the sides and they had two fantastic opportunities to extend their lead just moments after the restart. And it was Lanzini who had the better of the chances in the 47th-minute.
Another breakaway from West Ham had them 3-on-1 with Ben Gibson in the Boro defence. Carroll slotted Lanzini through on goal and the forward really should’ve made the game a little bit more comfortable for the Hammers, but curled his shot straight into the arms of a thankful Valdes.
From that point on it was all Boro. The home side pressed on but wasted countless opportunities to get themselves back into the game from set-pieces.
The first was a beautifully positioned free kick for Adam Forshaw, but the midfielder blazed his effort straight over the bar. It was then corner after corner for Boro, but once again Karanka’s side proved why they are the league’s lowest scorers.
Stuani nearly grabbed his second of the game and with a bit of luck, it would’ve been a completely different story. Cresswell turned inside his own box before kicking it straight at the Boro forward, he then watched on as the ball bounced straight back off the underside of West Ham’s bar.
Substitute Rudy Gestede making his debut for the home side nearly grabbed a late equaliser with a stunning bicycle-kick effort from the edge of the box.
But it wasn’t to be for Karanka’s side as West Ham once again raced down the pitch with a fantastic counter attack, this time to seal all three points in front of the 3000 travelling West Ham fans.
Andy Carroll had been replaced in the 66th minute by Jonathan Calleri, and the 23-year-old’s shot in the 92nd minute deflected straight into the back of Valdes’ net to further the misery as relegation looms large for Middlesbrough
FULL-TIME Middlesbrough 1-3 West Ham. Andy Carroll’s double inspires the Hammers to back-to-back #PL wins #MIDWHU pic.twitter.com/gbi8ePOjtq
TEAM NEWS | Here’s how #Boro will line up to face @WestHamUtd this afternoon. #UTB pic.twitter.com/ektVolt1g4
TEAM NEWS!
Slaven makes just 1??? change to his starting XI…
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