Allardyce reveals Nolan and Carroll 'are left to own devices'

The Hammers climbed into sixth place with yesterday's 1-0 victory at Newcastle, a club at which the three men have enjoyed differing fortunes in the recent past, with Nolan's fifth goal of the campaign securing the points.

Allardyce said: "Kevin's relationship with Andy is such a good one that I don't need to do a lot of coaching with those two.

"Kevin will instinctively play off Andy and vice-versa. While Andy is struggling to get a goal -- and we would like him to get one -- Kevin is the man who is scoring the goals because that combination is causing teams lots of problems.

"We have a strike-force there that is reaping rewards for the team by winning games of football, and 18 points after 11 games for a newly-promoted side is an outstanding start."

Carroll is still waiting to open his account at Upton Park and was denied by former team-mate Tim Krul 18 minutes from time on Tyneside as the visitors hit the Magpies on the break amid a concerted second-half assault.

Partnership

Allardyce said: "He is getting better and better as time goes on, and that partnership with Kevin is vital for us. It's a brilliant partnership.

"Long may it continue. It's getting us victories, it's getting us points.

"It's our second away win in the Premier League and after our last performance at Wigan, to see us play like this is really pleasing for me because we were dreadful at Wigan. We have turned that around with a really good performance and a great result today."

The Hammers shaded the first half and took the lead six minutes before the break when Nolan turned Joey O'Brien's driven shot past Krul.

Alan Pardew's men mounted a concerted fightback before the break and after it with Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa both forcing keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen to make important saves. But, ultimately, they were unable to produce the kind of quality which served them so well last season.

And with the Hammers defending determinedly, they made it to the final whistle without mishap.

Power

Pardew, who was without the suspended Fabricio Coloccini and Cheick Tiote, admitted the latter in particular was a big miss.

He said: "We lacked a bit of power on the pitch.

"It was a game for Tiote, really, and unfortunately we didn't have him available today.

"That sending-off has proved costly for us because it has cost us three points today."

Pardew, who made nine changes from Thursday night's 2-2 draw with Club Brugge in Belgium, refused to use the Europa League as an excuse.

He said: "I don't really want to make an excuse about the Europa League today, I really don't.

"We were fresh, we were in a good mindset for the game, we just didn't click today."