Slav gives his verdict on Irons victory

Desperately relieved boss Slaven Bilic saw the team take all three points from a game he had declared “had to be won.”

Speaking afterwards the manager said: “It was a very important game for us. It was a very long game – the longest game we’ve been involved in.

“Well done to the players, we showed the character. I think we deserved it. We dominated the first half. We had shots that hit the post.

“We had two penalty appeals. We should have been ahead by more than one goal looking at the quantities of chances.”

And on Andy Carroll, who made his first start since August he added: “It’s no secret I’m a big fan of him. I’m not a big fan ‘cos he’s a cousin or relative. It’s what I see on the training pitch. He is a miracle. What he gives to the team is massive.”