West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has criticised Andy Carroll after the Hammers striker was sent off in the 1-1 Premier League draw with Burnley on Saturday.
The London side had taken the lead at Turf Moor through Michail Antonio but the England international was given his marching orders by referee Stuart Atwell shortly after.
Two consecutive aerial challenges from Carroll saw back-to-back yellow cards in the space of a couple of minutes, with the West Ham centre forward dismissed for being perceived to use his elbow against the Burnley centre-halves.
Bilic has admitted that the Hammers striker got caught up with his emotions and should not have put himself in a position where he would be sent off.
“I’m very frustrated and very angry,” the West Ham official website quotes the manager as saying.
“I have not spoken to Andy yet and I don’t think about that [any punishment] now.
“I said that I’m very disappointed, not with the referee’s decision because it was [correct]. The first one can happen, but the second one cannot happen, especially when you play away, then you are asking for trouble.
“I didn’t speak with him at half-time, as I was concentrating on what to do in the game.
“It is extremely frustrating. What can I do? He is a very brave player and not a lazy player, he is a player who is committing himself and that’s his virtue and is a big part of his game.
“[For the second booking], he wants to win all the balls in his space and it was just an unbelievably bad decision to even go there.”
Burnley striker Chris Wood netted the equaliser with five minutes remaining, with West Ham’s ten men unable to hold out against a committed opponent.
Given the slow and inconsistent nature of the club’s start to the new Premier League campaign, a win at Turf Moor would have been a massive boost in the Hammers’ season.
That said, the performance overall was much better than other displays witnessed this season and there are certainly positives to take from the game for the travelling support.
Carroll continues to be a frustrating figure for the West Ham fans, who have seen just how effective and dangerous he can be when fit and on form.
However, the latest reckless disciplinary issue compounds the fact that the England striker is perennially injured, which has meant that he cannot string together a run of games in the team.
Carroll will now be suspended for the home game against Brighton and Hove Albion next weekend at the London Stadium, meaning Bilic is once again likely to change his formation.