Allardyce ponders Carroll effect

West ham boss Sam Allardyce was left to reflect on how things might have been had Andy Carroll been fit all season after a significant victory at Sunderland.

The 25-year-old England striker’s second goal of the season set the Hammers on their way to a win which lifted them 11 points clear of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone and at the same time, plunged the Black Cats into ever deeper trouble.