West Ham win ‘tops them all’
Sam Allardyce says leading West Ham back to the Premier League with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Blackpool in the Championship playoff final at Wembley is the finest achievement of his career.
Allardyce has been under intense pressure to fulfil his preseason promise as manager that West Ham would make an immediate return to the top tier after last season’s relegation and he finally delivered thanks to Ricardo Vaz Te’s late winner on Saturday.
The Hammers’ co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold had allowed Allardyce to invest heavily in new signings and, after missing out on automatic promotion to Reading and Southampton, failure to secure the final place in the Premier League could have cost the 57-year-old his job.
In the circumstances, victory over Ian Holloway’s Blackpool must have been a huge relief for Allardyce, who would have taken extra delight that he will be back among the elite next season while Blackburn, who sacked him in 2010, will be languishing in the Championship.
‘‘It’s probably bettered that because it’s West Ham United, with the size of the club and the pressure, and because it’s at Wembley,’’ Allardyce said.
‘‘It’s the first time I have come here and won – not that I’ve been here very often.
‘‘It’s been an outstanding, thrilling season compared to where we came from.
‘‘This is a memory for life and we will enjoy it.
‘‘You want to go up automatically but if you don’t and you win the final, then it’s a memory for everyone for years and years to come.
‘‘The delight you get out of winning at a venue like this, the trophy, the medals, the celebrations: it’s an outstanding achievement.
‘‘It’s bigger than anything else. Other games played here are cup competitions but this is everything, it’s about what’s happened over 10 months, not six or seven games.’’
West Ham’s first victory at Wembley since 1980 was in the balance right up to the final whistle as Blackpool, who were also hoping for a quick return to the Premier League after last season’s relegation, dominated possession and created a host of chances.
After Blackpool winger Matt Phillips wasted two golden opportunities, Carlton Cole put West Ham ahead in the 35th minute with a cool finish from Matt Taylor’s superb pass.
But Allardyce was stunned shortly after the interval when Tom Ince equalised.
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway, who rubbished reports linking him with Aston Villa, claimed his side just didn’t get the rub of the green at the key moments.