Swansea boss Bob Bradley knows his side face a hard task containing West Ham's Andy Carroll
Saturday 24 December 2016 13:23, UK
Bob Bradley admits Swansea will have to pay close attention to Andy Carroll when West Ham visit the Liberty Stadium on Boxing Day.
Although the game marks the return to south Wales of Andre Ayew - who was Swansea's top scorer last season before joining West Ham for £20.5million in the summer - it is arguably Carroll they should be most wary about given the 27-year-old's record against them.
Carroll has scored as many goals against Swansea as he has versus other club in his career, with five in eight games.
"He [Carroll] likes to drift to the back post, so we have to do a good job and make sure our central defenders are aware of that," Bradley said.
"We don't want to put that on the full-backs, we have to get it right because that is a big part of their game.
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"Carroll gives them a different threat, [Dimitri] Payet runs the game and is a threat from free-kicks."
Swansea are only above bottom Hull on goal difference and Bradley has been in the firing line of supporters underwhelmed by his October appointment in the first place.
The former USA manager has only been in charge of 10 matches and has a record of six losses, two draws and two wins, with both victories coming in home games against Sunderland and Crystal Palace respectively.
"Overall there is frustration among the fans - and that's fair enough," Bradley admitted.
"But we are pleased with the home form in the last two matches, especially against teams in our part of the table.
"Those were good results and we hope we can build on that over the Christmas period."