AC - We got what we came for

 

  • Andy Carroll says confidence and morale is high in the Hammers dressing room
  • In-form striker scores twice in 3-1 Premier League win at Middlesbrough
  • Victory lifts West Ham United into top half of the table

Andy Carroll says West Ham United ‘got what we came for’ after winning 3-1 at Middlesbrough.

The No9 bagged two more goals as the Hammers climbed into the Premier League’s top ten with a hard-earned victory at the Riverside Stadium – just their second in 12 Premier League visits.

Carroll powered home a header inside the opening ten minutes before putting his side back in front with a smartly-taken finish on the stroke of half-time – Cristhian Stuani having equalised in between.

Jonathan Calleri added a late third to send Carroll, Slaven Bilic’s squad and 2,000 travelling fans home from Teesside with wide grins on their faces.

“I’m happy with the goals and the three points and the lads were great again today,” the Big Man confirmed. “The points are fully deserved.

“It was a great cross by Manu for the first goal and I got a clear run on it and as soon as it met my head I knew it was in the back of the net.

“Then for the second it was a great effort from Mick and I was just waiting for any scraps, and the keeper’s parried it and I was able to get there first.

“They left it open a bit for us to attack in the second half and we could have had a couple more. We’re not being greedy, we’re happy with the three points and three goals!

“It’s very good to see Calleri score his first and he worked hard when he came on and he’s been working hard in training. It was good for all the lads to see him score.

 “At the end of the day, we’ve got the three points we came here for and everyone is delighted.”

The morale in the dressing room is fantastic. All the lads are having a laugh before and it’s great to be around. Everyone wants to work for the manager and it’s brilliant

Andy Carroll

After a stop-start opening half of the season, and some distracting off-field issues in recent weeks, West Ham have now won five out of seven in the Premier League and are within touching distance of seventh-place Everton, who are six points ahead of them.

Carroll said team spirit and confidence in the dressing room are in good shape after such a strong run of form and results.

“I think the lads have come together even stronger recently with everything that’s going on and you can see on the pitch everyone is working together, putting the grit in and that’s when the points come,” he confirmed.

“The morale in the dressing room is fantastic. All the lads are having a laugh before and it’s great to be around. Everyone wants to work for the manager and it’s brilliant.

“It was tough at the beginning of the season but we came out of that and we’re just thinking about each game as it comes.”

The only concerns on an otherwise perfect day for the Hammers were the sight of both Carroll and Mark Noble going off with injuries.

However, the centre forward was pleased to point out that his substitution was purely precautionary and he expects to be fit to face Manchester City at London Stadium on Wednesday 1 February.

“My groin was a little bit tight so we didn’t want to risk anything,” he said. “I didn’t train all week and I was a little bit stiff, so maybe that’s one of the reasons why it’s a bit tight. But I’m all good and looking forward to the next game.

“I feel good. I’m working hard and hopefully a lot more goals will come. I thrive on great balls in like that, and I always try my best to get on the end of it.

“We’ve got ten days until the next game so we’ll rest up and look forward to that.”