Phil SumblerYou know that feeling when you see a name on a team sheet and that you just know they are going to score? Well, it’s that feeling that Swans fans have when they see Andy Carroll’s name line up against them.
There is only one club that Carroll has scored as many goals against as he has against Swansea defences and, somewhat ironically, that is West Brom for whom he will line up tonight looking to get the Baggies back on the winning trail.
The veteran front man has scored seven goals against both of tonight’s teams although it has taken him 20 games to do against West Brom compared to just 11 against the Swans.
Goals for Newcastle, West Ham and Reading earlier this season have all been scored by Carroll against the Swans in an entertaining match up between club and player which has also seen him booked three times and sent off once in fixtures against us. With only three red cards in his career and only games against Manchester City where he has earned more yellow cards (4) then you just know that the name of Carroll will play a part in this evening’s game.
Tonight will be Carroll’s third Championship meeting against the Swans having scored on his previous two (for Newcastle and Reading) and he will be looking to continue that run and end a pretty dismal time for West Brom who have slipped to 13th in the table.
New Baggies boss Steve Bruce knows of the importance of giving the right service to Carroll as he searched out his first win in charge and he told the Express and Star “He isn’t going to be the Andy Carroll of old, but he was one of our better players at Middlesbrough.
“He gave everything, and he’s made the goal and done OK.
“To be better in the last third, we need our midfielders and full-backs to contribute. We need to contribute as a team.
“It is a team game, we need to contribute all over, and get better service to him.
“What we are guilty of is when we’re under it, we play direct and quick to Andy. We need to stop that, and I’ll make sure of it.
“He is a big voice in the dressing room, he doesn’t enjoy getting beat and he’ll have a bit to say, it is only normal.”
