West Ham United's No9 insists Sunday's performance at Manchester United is just the start of things to come
Andy Carroll thinks West Ham United can perform even better against Manchester United in their forthcoming FA Cup replay to reach the semi-finals.
The Hammers took the lead in the quarter-final through Dimitri Payet at Old Trafford on Sunday but were eventually held to a 1-1 draw after Anthony Martial equalised.
And Carroll can’t wait for the Boleyn Ground’s last ever FA Cup tie which gives Slaven Bilic’s side a chance to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2006.
He said: “It’s going to be great. All the lads are looking forward to it. The way we played [on Sunday] was fantastic and it can be better at our place.
“I don’t think there are many teams that come away from Old Trafford and are disappointed with a draw but we were.
“We are disappointed but we just have to take them to our place.”
The forward’s starting opportunities have been limited recently but the 27-year-old got the nod from boss Slaven Bilic against the Red Devils.
“It was great [to start],” he continued. “I’ve been working hard. I’ve been coming off the bench and it’s been hard not starting when I want to be but I was in and I think I got about 80 minutes, so it was great.
“[The selection choice available] is a great problem for the manager to have. We all have to keep trying and working to our best in training to be part of the starting XI.”
United’s French superstar Payet put the visitors in front with a superb 30-yard free-kick, but not to the surprise of Carroll.
“I think he has done four or five free-kicks now and he’s just incredible. You always think he’s going to score when he puts the ball down.
“After going one up, we felt like in the end we could have held out. Obviously they went up and put the pressure on and got the equaliser."
Carroll himself went close with a first half header from an Aaron Cresswell cross, but was ultimately content with the result.
“I was just waiting for another chance [after the header] but it didn’t come. I could have done a little bit better with it but at the end of the day I’m happy with the draw.”
The Hammers took the lead in the quarter-final through Dimitri Payet at Old Trafford on Sunday but were eventually held to a 1-1 draw after Anthony Martial equalised.
And Carroll can’t wait for the Boleyn Ground’s last ever FA Cup tie which gives Slaven Bilic’s side a chance to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2006.
He said: “It’s going to be great. All the lads are looking forward to it. The way we played [on Sunday] was fantastic and it can be better at our place.
“I don’t think there are many teams that come away from Old Trafford and are disappointed with a draw but we were.
“We are disappointed but we just have to take them to our place.”
The forward’s starting opportunities have been limited recently but the 27-year-old got the nod from boss Slaven Bilic against the Red Devils.
“It was great [to start],” he continued. “I’ve been working hard. I’ve been coming off the bench and it’s been hard not starting when I want to be but I was in and I think I got about 80 minutes, so it was great.
“[The selection choice available] is a great problem for the manager to have. We all have to keep trying and working to our best in training to be part of the starting XI.”
United’s French superstar Payet put the visitors in front with a superb 30-yard free-kick, but not to the surprise of Carroll.
“I think he has done four or five free-kicks now and he’s just incredible. You always think he’s going to score when he puts the ball down.
“After going one up, we felt like in the end we could have held out. Obviously they went up and put the pressure on and got the equaliser."
Carroll himself went close with a first half header from an Aaron Cresswell cross, but was ultimately content with the result.
“I was just waiting for another chance [after the header] but it didn’t come. I could have done a little bit better with it but at the end of the day I’m happy with the draw.”