Andy Carroll netted a brace for his first Premier League goals in eight months as West Ham United saw off 10-man Swansea City 3-1 this afternoon to climb up to third in the Premier League.
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West Ham had the first real chance of the match when Stewart Downing's 18th-minute free kick was diverted goalwards at the near post by Kevin Nolan, and Lukasz Fabianski kept it out with his feet.
Swansea struck against the run of play moments later when Gylfi Sigurdsson slipped in Jefferson Montero, who cut the ball back for Wilfried Bony to sidefoot home from 10 yards.
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The visitors could have doubled their lead in the first period, but Sigurdsson was denied by Adrian's palms before Bony fizzed an effort from range just wide.
West Ham hit back five minutes before the break when Carroll rose highest at the back post to meet Carl Jenkinson's cross and loop a header into the far corner.
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Bony was proving to be a real thorn in West Ham's side at both ends of the pitch, and he almost backed up his tireless defensive efforts with a second goal on the hour mark when his fierce shot from the edge of the area hit the crossbar.
Midway through the second half, West Ham took the lead for the first time when Downing's deep corner was headed home by Carroll. Leon Britton perhaps should have done better on the line, but he could only direct it into the net.
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It got worse for Swansea moments later when Fabianski was sent off for colliding with Diafra Sakho. The latter stayed on his feet despite the challenge and hit the post with his shot from a tight angle. Referee Chris Foy had already blown his whistle, though, and gave the Swansea keeper his marching orders.
Sakho, back in the squad after almost a month out injured, hit the woodwork again 10 minutes later with a low shot, before he did manage to put the icing on the cake in the 87th minute with a fine finish after Carroll's flick-on.
The Hammers could have made it more late on but Ki Sung-Yueng cleared off the line, while Sakho saw a shot saved by substitute keeper Gerhard Tremmel.
West Ham will not be third for long as either Southampton or Manchester United will go above them depending on tomorrow night's result at St Mary's Stadium.
Pascal Lemesre
