Amid the euphoria of a vital victory for West Ham in their fight against relegation, the mood was spoiled by Jake Livermore having to be led down the tunnel after the West Bromwich Albion midfielder became involved in a confrontation with a spectator during the second half at the London Stadium.

A suggestion that something had been said to Livermore by a West Ham fan sitting behind the dugouts could not be verified on Tuesday night. John Carver, West Brom’s assistant manager, could be seen remonstrating with stewards and West Ham are investigating the incident, which took place after Livermore’s substitution in the 65th minute. The Football Association is likely to be interested in the club’s observations.

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“The only thing I know is I see Jake in the crowd, which disturbed me,” Alan Pardew, the West Brom manager, said. “You don’t want to see a player in the crowd. There’s no way he’s going in the crowd, because I know him, he’s a great lad, unless he was provoked severely. That’s all I know. I haven’t had a chance to talk to Jake. I’ll speak to him and we’ll go from there.”

West Brom, who remain winless since Pardew replaced Tony Pulis, felt the disappointment of this defeat bitterly. They were beaten by Andy Carroll’s winner in the 94th minute and only goal difference is keeping them off the foot of the table.

The visitors were dead on their feet. While West Ham had enjoyed the luxury of a week off, West Brom had 48 hours to recover from their draw with Arsenal, such is the increasingly weird scheduling over the festive period.

“It was a tough last 20 minutes,” Pardew said. “We were really hanging physically and mentally. It’s very evident on the pitch. We lose Matty Phillips in the warm‑up. It was too much for us. It’s unfair.”

Most spectators had given up hope of seeing a winning goal when Manuel Lanzini and Marko Arnautovic launched one final attack. West Brom, who had felt the lactic acid rising in their muscles as a tight match wore on, were seconds away from earning a valuable point. “It didn’t look likely for long periods,” David Moyes said.

Yet West Ham’s manager had an unlikely hero in the form of a striker who has often cut a frustrated, angry figure this season. Carroll had not scored since last April before he cancelled out James McClean’s opener with towering header in the 59th minute and his second goal hauled West Ham a point above the bottom three, leaving West Brom heartbroken in the process.

The game started so promisingly for Pardew’s side. Their impressive organisation frustrated West Ham and they took the lead when McClean’s shot from 25 yards hit Pedro Obiang and spun over Adrián after half an hour.

Lanzini had two efforts saved by Ben Foster in the first half and Carroll spurned a wonderful chance shortly after half-time.

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Starting for the first time since 24 November, Carroll perked up after that miss and he showed there remains a spring in his legs when he leapt to meet Aaron Cresswell’s cross. This was him at his rollocking best as he bullied Jonny Evans and Kieran Gibbs, muscling both defenders out of the way to direct a low header past Foster.

Arnautovic went close after being played in by Lanzini but West Brom had a threat on the break. Oliver Burke had two chances after replacing Jay Rodriguez, but Pardew found himself criticising the young winger after he gave the ball away in the buildup to West Ham’s winner.

“I expect him to run it in the corner,” Pardew said. “Maybe because we were under pressure to win he’s stuck it in the box.”

West Ham flew to the other end, Lanzini found Arnautovic and Carroll converted the Austrian’s cross from a tight angle.