Bournemouth 1 - West Ham 3: Payet and Valencia shine but Carroll blow dampens victory

DIMITRI PAYET and classy Enner Valencia inspired West Ham’s second-half comeback – but their efforts could not deflect from the concern caused by yet another knee injury to Andy Carroll.

 

Dimitri Payet returned to the starting XI to grab a goal and an assist for West Ham

 

The striker was making only his seventh league start after suffering ligament damage to his left knee last February. And he lasted just 12 minutes before going to ground and he was forced to withdraw after treatment on the same knee. 

Carroll’s injury gives Slaven Bilic a major problem but the manager will be satisfied with the way his side recovered after falling behind to the first Premier League goal of Harry Arter.

His effort gave Bournemouth another lift after manager Eddie Howe had spent £17million on bringing Benik Afobe, Lewis Grabban and Juan Iturbe to the club. 

But Afobe’s first-half misses meant they were unable to build on a positive start. And Payet made the difference when Bilic’s side upped the tempo after the break in their bid to extend their unbeaten run to eight games – to equal their Premier League record.

 

The playmaker brought Bilic’s side back into it with a stunning 67th-minute free-kick before producing a moment of magic to tee up Enner Valencia for the second in the 75th minute.

And Valencia wrapped up the win six minutes from time when he produced a superb free-kick to rival his team mate’s earlier effort. 

Iturbe’s international clearance was confirmed in time to allow Howe to include all three of his new signings in his squad – with Afobe the lone striker. 

But the feel-good factor was close to being wiped out when Simon Francis’s weak back header almost let in Valencia.

 

The home side survived but were fortunate to escape in the 10th minute when Carroll offered a glimpse of his threat before his night was cut short. 

He out-jumped Steve Cook to head goalwards, then raced on to the ball and rounded left-back Charlie Daniels before delivering a dangerous low cross that was hacked off the toe of Michail Antonio. 

Moments later, the injuryjinxed Carroll hit the ground. The full extent of his injury will be soon become clear – but the striker’s departure brought West Ham’s positive start to an abrupt halt. 

The home side went ahead when Arter beat Pedro Obiang before firing in a 20-yard shot and they could have two more had Afobe not cashed in.

 

But Bilic’s half-time talk worked wonders as the Hammers produced a stirring comeback. 

BOURNEMOUTH (4-2-3-1): Boruc; Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Surman, Gosling; Ritchie (Iturbe 50), Arter (Murray 80), Stanislas; Afobe (Grabban 72). Booked: Smith. Goal: Arter 17. NEXT UP: Norwich (h), PL Sat. 

WEST HAM (4-2-3-1): Adrian; Tomkins (Jenkinson 61), Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Noble, Obiang; Valencia, Payet, Antonio; Carroll (Jelavic 15).Booked: Payet (Song 78). Goals: Payet 67, Valencia 74, 84. NEXT UP: Newcastle (a), PL Sat.

Referee: M Atkinson (West Yorks)