Jamie Redknapp has ripped into West Ham first teamer Andy Carroll after his dismissal against Burnley at the weekend.
The centre-forward was sent off after just 28 minutes at Turf Moor in the Premier League clash for picking up two yellow cards in the space of two minutes.
The 28-year-old picked up a red card after two separate incidents where he challenged for an aerial ball with his elbow.
Slaven Bilic’s side picked up a point despite playing the majority with 10 men and had been in the ascendancy after Michail Antonio’s 19th minute opener.
However, Burnley striker Chris Wood scored a late equaliser in the 85th minute to mean the points were shared.
Redknapp has urged England forward Carroll to use more common sense on a football pitch and believes he cost his side three points.
“We all know about Andy Carroll’s aerial prowess,” Redknapp wrote in the Daily Mail. “Now he needs to use his head to avoid silly red cards like his dismissal at Turf Moor.
“What was Carroll thinking leading with his elbow twice in a matter of minutes? He not only cost West Ham two points but himself a game. Carroll has missed so much through injury that he cannot afford any needless suspensions.”
OPINION
Carroll has always played with an edge to his game that brings the best out of him, but his dismissal against Burnley was stupidity. The striker committed two similar fouls in very short succession to leave the referee with no decision but to send him off. His second challenge was particularly dangerous as he lunged in with his elbow to leave the defender flattened on the ground and it could have seriously endangered the player. Carroll does use his arms to get good elevation and is a lot taller than most opponents, but needs to be a lot more careful when rushing into duals.