WELL I think the prize for daftest footballer of the year has already been won!

Step forward one Mr Andy Carroll whose only real contribution to Saturday’s game was two aerial challenges – within 99 seconds of each other – which earned him two yellow cards and a subsequent red one to complete the set.

It was absolute madness from the big front man and one which clearly annoyed both his manager Slaven Bilic and teammate Pablo Zabaleta who both condemned him after the 1-1 draw.

Given the number of games Carroll misses through injury, you can understand the anger from the Hammers camp that he’ll now miss another due to stupidity.

His side were 1-0 up at Turf Moor by that point, Michail Antonio taking advantage of a slip from Ben Mee to latch onto Joe Hart’s long clearance to nudge past Nick Pope and then roll into an empty net.

After the relatively lifeless nature of the last home game against Huddersfield Town, last Saturday’s encounter was far more entertaining, even aside from the first half sending off.

In the end honours were even thanks to Chris Wood’s late header but the Clarets had one or two other chances, especially in the second half, which could have seen us snatch all three points.

The introduction of Johann Berg Gudmundsson at half time was the catalyst, the Icelandic international capping off a fine week in which he scored twice for his country to secure a World Cup berth with a superb performance.

The week could have got even better for the JBG but his effort from the edge of the box struck a post and then the back of Hart before the grateful England keeper gathered it to safety.

Boss Sean Dyche talks a lot about progress and Saturday, for me, was another sign of that.

Playing against 10 men didn’t suit us and in seasons gone by that is a game that could have gotten away from us.

Saturday will be a different test altogether at free-scoring Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola’s side have notched 17 – SEVENTEEN! – goals in their last three home league games and saw off Napoli at the Etihad on Tuesday night.

There’s no doubting it’ll be the sternest test of the season and I’m not even going to try and suggest we’ll win there…

…but you never know! Who’d have thought we’d go to Chelsea and win on the opening day?