'They don't normally come off like that!' - Carroll revels in stunning strike

Andy Carroll insisted his stunning goal against Crystal Palace was straight off the training ground - albeit with more success than his previous efforts.

The West Ham striker capped a brilliant performance with a ferocious second-half scissor-kick - comfortably, in his eyes, the best goal of his career - that helped The Hammers to a 3-0 win.

And afterwards the former Liverpool man revealed that it is not the first time he has tried such an audacious finish.

"I do try them in training a lot, but they don't come off like that!" he joked. "I'm glad that one went in.

"I felt it [going in] straight off my boot - it was a great feeling."

"I was determined to score [in this game].  

"Michail Antonio played a great ball in just behind me. I hit one in training in the week and hit the post.

"I thought I'd give it another go and it's gone in and I'm happy. It's been a while in the making - I've been trying for a couple of years. It's got to be the best goal I've scored."

Hammers manager Slaven Bilic confirmed that Carroll has a history of attempting the acrobatic, even if his injury record still worries the ex-Croatia boss.

"With his history of injuries, I go a bit crazy when he does that in training because you don't want him to get hurt," Bilic said.

New Palace boss Sam Allardyce, meanwhile - still without a win since taking over at Selhurst Park - was also left in awe of the front man's quality, the pair having worked together when Allardyce was Hammers manager.

"It's a terrific finish from Andy Carroll and he's always had that in his locker," said Allardyce. "The volley was outstanding.

"But he was all on his own, stood in the box, and we had three defenders doing nothing."