By ANTONY KASTRINAKIS
Carroll has yet to score for West Ham since his loan move from Liverpool in late August. The last time he netted was for England against Sweden in Euro 2012 back in June.
And the striker looked angry to be subbed late on after Joey O’Brien had cancelled out Jon Walters’ opener for Stoke. But Big Sam defended Carroll’s reaction.
He said: “Yes, Andy was disappointed. He wants to score and he wants me to leave him on for 90 minutes. But there’s fresh players on the bench to give more energy to find a winner.
“I make substitutions for everybody, I thought that was the best way to win the game.
“Andy’s not to get too frustrated that he’s not scoring. He didn’t get many chances.
“Sooner or later if we work on him making runs into the box and the service we give him, eventually he’ll score.”
Stoke went ahead with a brilliant corner routine as Walters came from the far post to thud home Glenn Whelan’s flag kick.
Allardyce added: “If the ref had eyes in the back of his head he’d have seen a block from Charlie Adam on George McCartney.”
O’Brien cancelled that out but despite dominating the second half, the Hammers could not find the winner.
Boss Tony Pulis insisted Stoke will soon end their 16- match run without an away win. He said: “We’ve been ever so close but just haven’t made it.”
And he revealed Walters had failed to score in training every time they tried the routine that undid West Ham.
He added: “We never scored in training doing it. We blocked and obstructed a player. I’m not supposed to be that honest in saying that.”
