Blackpool 1-2 West Ham United

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 19 May 2012

Ricardo Vaz Te scores the winner as West Ham secure Premier League football by overcoming Blackpool 2-1 in the Championship playoff final.

West Ham United will play Premier League football next year after overcoming Blackpool 2-1 in the Championship playoff final.

It was West Ham who started the better and Kevin Nolan might have slipped in Carlton Cole after barely 30 seconds on the clock, before Hammers stopper Rob
Green denied Stephen Dobbie from close range after three minutes.

West Ham came close to the opener after 10 minutes when Ricardo Vaz Te advanced in the box, but his shot drifted wide of Matt Gilks's post in a period with few clear openings.

Matt Phillips so nearly handed Blackpool the lead after 15 minutes when he advanced into the box, but somehow he fired wide of the post when he might have done better.

West Ham again came close with an effort from Vaz Te after 20 minutes, but the former Bolton Wanderers man again fired wide, before Cole headed over moments later.

The Hammers threatened with a series of corners late in the half, with James Tomkins so nearly opening the score on more than one occasion.

West Ham did take the lead, however, after 35 minutes when Cole collected a Matthew Taylor pass before finding the back of the net.

It was so nearly two when Vaz Te advanced into the box five minutes before the break but he fired just wide, to leave the score 1-0 to the Hammers after 45 minutes of football.

Blackpool were on level terms moments into the second period, however, when Ince slotted past Green after a wonderful ball from Phillips.

The Tangerines so nearly moved ahead moments later when Alex Baptiste advanced into the box, but Green made the save.

Ian Holloway's side continued to dominate as the hour mark approached, but Jack Collison came close for West Ham after a Taylor cross with 61 minutes on the clock.

The Hammers again came close with an effort from Cole after 63 minutes, but Gilks made a wonderful save to deny the Englishman.

Dobbie passed up a wonderful opportunity to send Blackpool into the lead after 67 minutes when he was found by Neal Eardley, but somehow the midfielder scuffed his shot wide.

Blackpool came close once more with an effort from Phillips after 71 minutes, but it just moved wide of the post, before Dobbie again tested Green moments later.

Nolan so nearly put West Ham into the lead after 80 minutes with a wonderful volley, but it smashed off the crossbar with Gilks stranded.

There was to be one final chance, however, and Vaz Te pounced on a loose ball inside the box to send West Ham into the Premier League.