WEST HAM UNITED’S man mountain from Tyneside returned to the North-East and tormented Teesside with the two goals that helped to inflict a 3-1 defeat on Middlesbrough.

Andy Carroll, the Gateshead-born striker, scored the Hammers’ two goals to leave Middlesbrough frustrated on an afternoon when they showed plenty of attacking intent.

Carroll, with a header and a rebound, scored either side of Cristhian Stuani’s 27th minute equaliser and Aitor Karanka’s men were unable to find a crucial second.

Not even Patrick Bamford’s introduction with ten minutes remaining following his £6m move from Chelsea could earn a late point, even if the other £6m man Rudy Gestede went close with a volley in the dying stages.

And West Ham added a third in stoppage-time when Jonathan Calleri’s effort took a deflection of Adam Clayton to send the travelling fans home happy, with a fifth win in seven for Slaven Bilic’s side.

The frustrating thing from a Middlesbrough point of view was that they trailed at the break, having shown plenty attacking desire to suggest they could have won. They have now won just one of their last eight Premier League games, and remain four points above the bottom three.

Adama Traore, the man being targeted by Chelsea this month, was central to Middlesbrough’s best attacks. He overcame a few nervy moments early on to show why he is being monitored by so many and Middlesbrough looked more dangerous as a result.

But, surprisingly, weaknesses at the other end were what cost the home side and they found that you can’t afford to do that with Carroll around and in better form.

The Geordie striker powered in Aaron Cresswell’s corner in the ninth minute to give West Ham a lead, having lost his marker Bernardo Espinosa with his movement in the area.

Middlesbrough’s response was positive and they had threatened to level a couple of times but could have done with having Carroll themselves on the end of them to convert.

The Teesside crowd did celebrate the leveller in the 27th minute. Traore, who had made a couple of poor decisions earlier, rolled a pass for Calum Chambers to run on to down the right.

Chambers, on loan from Arsenal, delivered a fine low cross to the back post where Stuani was on hand to side-foot beyond goalkeeper Darren Randolph.

At that stage Middlesbrough’s confidence was flowing and they looked like they might add a second, only to be hit with a sucker punch before the break.

Goalkeeper Victor Valdes could have done better when his palm handed save only dropped to Michail Antonio’s low 20-yard drive in front of him and Carroll reacted first to fire low beyond the Spaniard.

After the restart West Ham wasted a couple of quickfire efforts to extend the lead but after that Middlesbrough’s showed true fighting spirit to try to turn things around.

Moments before Carroll was forced to make way, Cresswell almost turned Negredo’s low centre into his own net when his block flicked off Stuani and hit the crossbar.

Randolph had also just saved from the head of Marten de Roon, with Traore central to both moves.

Bamford was introduced for the final ten minutes but there was no breakthrough, despite plenty of pressure and an effort from Gestede that flew wide.

And in the dying seconds of the game, West Ham’s final attack ended with Calleri’s effort deflecting off Adam Clayton and adding insult to injury.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Valdes; Chambers, Bernardo, Gibson, Friend; Clayton, De Roon; Traore, Forshaw (Gestede 83), Stuani (Bamford 80); Negredo. Subs (not used): Guzan (gk), Fabio, Leadbitter, Fischer, Downing.

WEST HAM UNITED (4-2-3-1): Randolph; Byram, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Noble (Fernandes 54), Obiang; Feghouli (Collins 83), Antonio, Lanzini; Carroll (Calleri 67). Subs: Adrian (gk), Fletcher, Oxford, Quina.