Andy Carroll wondergoal helps West Ham forget Dimitri Payet saga

West Ham United poured further misery on former boss Sam Allardyce after an Andy Carroll wondergoal helped them to a crucial 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace.

All of the pre-match talk had revolved around Dimitri Payet’s wish to leave the club and his absence was certainly notable in a first half in which neither side failed to create many meaningful chances. But the Hammers were a different side after the break and after Sofiane Feghouli tapped home Michail Antonio’s cross, Carroll doubled the advantage with a spectacular scissor kick that will surely rank as one of his finest goals.

To compound Palace’s misery, the man earmarked to fill the void vacated by Payet, Manuel Lanzini, finished off a rapid counter attack by lifting a sublime finish over Wayne Hennessey.

The result means that West Ham win their first match in five home meetings and leave Sam Allardyce searching for his first win as Palace boss.

Who needs Dimitri Payet? Well, West Ham actually, certainly in the opening half. But Hammers fans will have travelled home only talking about Carroll’s fabulous strike and Lanzini’s delicate finish.

Andy Carroll (West Ham) Was his usual handful for the Palace defenders and twice went close to opening the scoring before that spectacular winner. Edges out Antonio, who set up every goal on the day.

West Ham United: Randolph 6, Reid 6, Cresswell 6, Feghouli 7, Obiang 6, Noble 6, Collins 6, Lanzini 7, Carroll 8, Antonio 7, Ogbonna 6. SUBS: Byram, Fernandes, Fletcher.

Crystal Palace: Hennesey 5, Tomkins 6, Dann 6, Delaney 6, Ward 5, Cabaye 6, McArthur 6, Ledley 5, Puncheon 7, Townsend 7, Benteke 6. SUBS: Remy 6, Lee 7, Schlupp 6.

28’ – CHANCE WEST HAM! Mark Noble digs out a great cross and Carroll fires just over the bar with his weaker foot.

35’ – CHANCE CRYSTAL PALACE! Townsend delivers the free kick and it’s a great chance from Tomkins at the back post but he miscues straight across the face of goal from a couple of yards out.

68’ - GOAL! West Ham United 1-0 Crystal Palace: Antonio goes past Hennessey and his cross is on a plate for Feghouli to score his first Premier League goal.

79’ - GOAL! West Ham United 2-0 Crystal Palace: That has to be the greatest goal you will ever see Andy Carroll score with a spectacular scissor kick from Antonio’s cross.

86’ - GOAL! West Ham United 3-0 Crystal Palace: Lanzini finishes off a fast West Ham counter with a sublime finish, lofted over the advancing Hennessey.

Crystal Palace have now lost all of their five PL London Derbies this season without scoring a single goal in them. They have been outscored 8-0 by PL crosstown rivals this season.

Antonio is the first West Ham player with three assists in a single Premier League match since 22 April 2000, when Paolo Di Canio did so against Coventry City (5-0).

Andy Carroll scores his 26th PL goal for West Ham.

Sofiane Feghouli scores his first career PL goal. His first league goal since October 2015, when he netted for Valencia CF.

Manuel Lanzini has scored in all four of his Premier League appearances against the Eagles.