The on-loan 24-year-old missed last weekend's trip to parent club Liverpool and made an immediate impact on his return to Sam Allardyce's starting line-up. Having proved a nuisance all afternoon, the ?35million striker fired low past Artur Boruc to deny Southampton a fourth win on the bounce.
Carroll fired just wide 10 minutes into the second half and the hosts soon capitalised, with club record signing Gaston Ramirez netting. The lead was to last just seven minutes, though, as Carroll found the net after firing home a short free-kick from Gary O'Neil to earn the east Londoners a point at their fellow promoted side.
Source: PA
Source: PA