Andy Carroll's first Premier League goal in eight months cancels out Wilfried Bony's opener as West Ham United and Swansea City go in level at the break.

Andy Carroll's first Premier League goal in eight months has drawn West Ham United level at half time in this afternoon's match against Swansea City.

West Ham United's English striker Andy Carroll scores West Ham's first goal to equalise during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Swansea City at the Boleyn Ground, Upton Park, in east London on December 7, 2014 © Getty Images

After a tight opening quarter of an hour, it was West Ham who went close first when Stewart Downing's free kick to the near post was helped on by Kevin Nolan. and kept out by Swansea keeper Lukasz Fabianski.

Swansea hit the Hammers with a suckerpunch moments later. Neat work down the left from Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jefferson Montero ended with the latter cutting back for Wilfried Bony to coolly sidefoot home his seventh league goal of the season.

Wilfried Bony of Swansea City celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Swansea City at Boleyn Ground on December 7, 2014 © Getty Images

Despite West Ham seeing plenty of the ball in the visitors' half, it was Swansea who were pushing for a second as first Sigurdsson had a shot beaten out by Adrian before Bony's fizzing effort from distance flew just wide.

Up the other end, Aaron Cresswell headed straight at Fabianski from close range, before West Ham equalised five minutes before the break.

Carroll directed a looping header back across goal and into the far corner from Carl Jenkinson's deep cross.

West Ham United's English striker Andy Carroll celebrates scoring their first goal to equalise during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Swansea City at the Boleyn Ground, Upton Park, in east London on December 7, 2014 © Getty Images