Back after a six-week absence, Andy Carroll contributed little to the game other than fouls and was told he was not fit to wear West Ham’s shirt by fans
With seven seconds on the clock Andy Carroll rose to challenge Marvin Zeegelaar for a high ball and left the Watford debutant on the floor, his nose bleeding. It had not taken long for the forward to make an impression on his opponents.
In the starting lineup for the first time in six weeks, handed a new chance by a new manager, there could be no better time for Carroll to prove his worth. Perhaps with this performance he could make himself the toast of his team, acclaimed by his new coach. As it happened at half-time David Moyes sought him out for a chat, but instead of receiving a congratulatory handshake he was told that having fully considered the game and all its complexities his manager had decided that he only had another 10 minutes. By then he had been booked for tripping Richarlison – whose dramatic reaction hardly helped the situation – and had left a foot unnaturally high after falling over Christian Kabasele. “Half-time was a decision because I wasn’t sure if he was going to get himself sent off,” said Moyes. “I told him I wouldn’t take him off but I’d only give him 10 or 15 minutes of the second half.”
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