New boss David Moyes showed his West Ham players he means business — by reading Andy Carroll the riot act after his first game in charge.

Manager Moyes stunned witnesses by “hammering” star striker Carroll over his display in Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Watford.

The England international was taken off in the 65th minute, immediately after the Hornets' second goal.

He was walking a tightrope after being booked for a foul on Richarlison, having escaped punishment for catching defender Marvin Zegelaar with a stray elbow just six seconds into the match.

Carroll can be unstoppable at his best but was far from that in Moyes' West Ham debut (
Image:
Reuters)

However, it was his overall performance rather than just his ill-discipline – in his first league start for five weeks following a red card at Burnley – that angered Moyes.

The Scot is understood to have told Carroll in no uncertain terms in Vicarage Road's away dressing room that his display was not up to scratch and he needed to liven up.

Moyes, who has vowed to get tough with West Ham's players, hasn't held back in publicising his expectations of the squad he's inherited from the sacked Slaven Bilic.

He underlined that in his treatment of Carroll, and sent out a warning to the rest of his squad in the process.

Though Moyes didn't begin his reign with the result he wanted at Watford, he is understood to have made a positive impression since taking charge.

His straight-talking communication style and hard work have gone down well with many of the players, along with the intensity and hands-on approach he has brought to training sessions.

Moyes' displeasure was clear after the Watford defeat, when he said diplomatically that "there were some players with big reputations who disappointed me a little bit” having singled out Carroll behind closed doors.

And his criticism of West Ham's one-time £15m record signing will increase the scrutiny on the striker in Friday's home game against Leicester.

He was taunted with chants of "You're not fit to wear the shirt” when hooked on Sunday — having angered sections of the fan-base after what proved to be Bilic's final game, a 4-1 loss to Liverpool, by telling them they “really should be staying until the end" of matches.

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