But Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti was quick to point out at half-time to his players - "Carroll cannot do us damage if he doesn't have the ball" - so the team made a reshuffle to stop the service to the big man.
Chris Hughton: "Andy doesn't play with fear. He's not fearful of any opposition or any individual - that's how he is at the moment.
"When you are in a confident mood and you are scoring goals, that's how it should be.
"You should look forward to every game. You should think that every game is an opportunity to play well and score.
"Going back to last season, he came up against some really tough, Championship-hardened centre-halves who at times physically got the better of him.
"But his movement across defenders has improved, as has his general movement.
"I think he realises he is up against better players now and to get the better of them, his movement has got to be better.
"He is in really confident mood at the moment."