The arms were spread so wide it look the wingspan of a plane, and the charge was towards a far corner of Middlesbrough supporters. Andy Carroll, bearded and with chest puffed out, almost had steam coming out of his nostrils as he ran, jumped and lashed a fist into the air in celebration.
It was the 43rd minute, and on a return home to the northeast of England, it was Carroll’s day. There were the obligatory gestures of disgust from those supporters he was celebrating in front of, just as there were when he was substituted in the 67th minute, but in a pocket of the stadium, the 2,000 with claret and blue in their veins, roared their approval.
The shoulders slumped slightly, for perhaps the first time in the afternoon, and when he finally left the field, there was a handshake, a hug and a word of praise from his manager, Slaven Bilic. It was difficult to know what more Carroll could have given his manager; two goals, industry, aggression, defensive prowess and the platform for a victory that took Bilic and West Ham into the top ten with a second league victory in eight days. Seasons and managerial prospects turn with such speed.
The first goal, after just nine minutes, was a throwback to Carroll in perhaps his prime, at Newcastle, pre Liverpool and recurring injury. A left wing corner came over from the excellent Manuel Lanzini, and by the time it arrived Carroll had already demolished the Middlesbrough central defender Bernardo with his power. Arriving just inside the six-yard area, the 6ft 5in Carroll, jumping and at full speed, was unstoppable and he crashed a header past Victor Valdes. He ran to Lanzini then. That West Ham had already missed an opportunity by then — Michail Antonio glancing one wide — was indicative of the afternoon. It rained chances for the Hammers.
Middlesbrough replied in the 27th minute, Adama Traore, their best player, teed up Calum Chambers, he crossed low, and at the far post Christian Stuani struck a first-time finish past Darren Randolph. Traore slipped two more crosses, untouched, across the face of the West Ham goal. With them went home dreams, and it was representative of Carroll’s effect all over the field, that he helped create the crucial second for his side, that he would eventually finish himself.
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Carroll fed the overlapping Aaron Cresswell and when the ball came back to Antonio, Valdes could only parry his well struck, 25-yard drive. Carroll was onto the rebound in a flash, and he was almost on bended knee as he drove in his second of the afternoon.
Then he celebrated, roaring his delight into a mist that hung over the Riverside. As he did, Teesside deflated.
Two minutes later, with Martin Atkinson ’s whistle poised, he leapt highest to clear an Adam Forshaw corner in his own penalty area. He never seemed far from the ball. Carroll put Lanzini through in the 48th minute, but the finish was weak.
There should really have been a third before the 94th minute, and even then, the visitors did their best to overplay a fine, flowing break. It ended when the substitute Jonathan Calleri, on for Carroll, saw his shot deflect off the arm of Adam Clayton, to finally seal a deserved victory.