Sport Andy Carroll claims last-minute equaliser as West Ham steal Stoke point

© Provided by The Press Association Andy Carroll (second right)  Andy Carroll climbed off the treatment table to score a dramatic last-minute equaliser and deny Stoke a precious win in their battle for Premier League survival.

The striker, out injured since the turn of the year, was sent on as a last throw of the dice by manager David Moyes with West Ham trailing to Peter Crouch’s goal.

And within three minutes Carroll fired home from the edge of the area to snatch a 1-1 draw which edged the Hammers closer to safety and left Stoke in serious trouble.

England boss Gareth Southgate was in attendance to witness two Three Lions strikers of old take centre stage.

West Ham 1 Stoke City 1: Substitute Carroll leaves Potters in peril

Peter Crouch came off the bench to seemingly net the winner for Stoke, but fellow substitute Andy Carroll struck a vital leveller.Andy Carroll's 90th-minute equaliser edged Stoke City closer to Premier League relegation, cancelling out Peter Crouch's strike and earning West Ham a 1-1 home draw on Monday.

Andy Carroll kept his scoring form going as West Ham saw off Middlesbrough 3-1 in their Premier League clash at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday. Middlesbrough 1 West Ham 3. Carroll scores on nine minutes . Five wins in our last seven.#COYI #MIDWHU pic.twitter.com/ovXYs8zZLV.

Andy Carroll is fit again for West Ham ’s final six games of the season. It is understood the 29-year-old target man is set for a place on the bench for next Monday’s home game against Stoke . Carroll last played for West Ham in their 1-1 Premier League draw at Spurs on January 4.

But Southgate was running the rule over opposing goalkeepers Joe Hart and Jack Butland – and it was Stoke stopper Butland who at least won that showdown with Hart badly at fault for Crouch’s goal.

Hart did repel early shots from Moritz Bauer and Mame Biram Diouf, while Butland kept out Arthur Masuaku’s cross-shot with his legs and tipped Aaron Cresswell’s free-kick wide.

© Reuters Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United vs Stoke City - London Stadium, London, Britain - April 16, 2018 West Ham United's Andy Carroll celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. Butland then made a vital save to keep out West Ham’s best chance of the first half, not that he knew much about it as Marko Arnautovic’s point-blank volley hit his old team-mate in the face.

West Ham 1 Stoke City 1: Substitute Carroll leaves Potters in peril

Peter Crouch came off the bench to seemingly net the winner for Stoke, but fellow substitute Andy Carroll struck a vital leveller.Andy Carroll's 90th-minute equaliser edged Stoke City closer to Premier League relegation, cancelling out Peter Crouch's strike and earning West Ham a 1-1 home draw on Monday.

West Ham have moved out of the relegation zone by scoring a last -gasp winner at the London Stadium. The West Ham players celebrated wildly after Andy Carroll scored in the dying seconds to secure all three points .

Southampton 1-3 West Ham : Hammers claim first St Mary's victory. By Jack Wilkinson. Andy Carroll celebrates his goal for West Ham at Southampton. Having set up Carroll for the equaliser , Obiang got in on the act on the stroke of half-time, drilling home his first West Ham goal beyond

Butland got down well to hold a low Mark Noble drive as a tepid opening half drew to a close.

Shortly before the match Hammers vice-chairman Karren Brady had taken to Twitter to plug her new TV show, which started the same time as kick-off.

At half-time many fans at the London Stadium were probably wishing they had taken her advice, stayed at home and tuned in instead.

But at least one man was grateful for a lack of incident. Referee Michael Oliver was in charge of his first match since he caused a storm by sending off Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon against Real Madrid last week.

Oliver was busier shortly after the break, though, as West Ham twice had the ball in the back of the net only to see both goals disallowed.

First Arnautovic converted Cresswell’s cross with a deft header but he had strayed marginally offside.

Then a low Edimilson Fernendes drive flew past Butland but Arnautovic, this time clearly offside, was in the keeper’s way and may even have got the faintest of touches.

We believe until the end - Shaqiri targets three wins for struggling Stoke City

Five points adrift of safety, Stoke City can still stave off relegation to the Championship, according to Xherdan Shaqiri.Xherdan Shaqiri insists Stoke City still believe they can avoid relegation despite being precariously placed in the Premier League relegation zone.

Hernandez's 73rd- minute equaliser salvaged a 1-1 draw for West Ham and gave them a crucial point in their fight against relegation. West Ham United news: Andy Carroll could be set for Premier League return against Stoke City.

Ham keeper Adrian has total headloss to gift Bojan equaliser as Stoke steal Stratford point . West Ham took the lead on 65 minutes courtesy of a Michail Antonio effort which may eventually go down Stoke are now unbeaten in six Premier League games, while West Ham have only won three of their

Butland made another decent save to palm away Cresswell’s long-range effort, but when Hart was called into action from similar distance he failed.

The Manchester City loanee fumbled Xherden Shaqiri’s shot and was too slow to react, allowing Crouch to stick out a long leg and stab the ball home.

But enter Carroll, and in the final minute the big frontman stroked home a crisp first-time shot after the ball was played into his feet by Cresswell.

It could have been worse for Stoke but Javier Hernandez had an even later goal disallowed for a foul by Carroll.

As it is they remain in grave danger, five points from safety with four matches to play.