Blackpool Vs. West Ham United: Hammers Promoted To Premier League

Fortunately for West Ham, that wasn’t going to be their last chance of the match, and Ricardo Vaz Te was on hand to sweep home following a scramble in the box. It was a wonderful moment for the forward, but he came perilously close to missing the open goal entirely - his shot from close range and with Gilks prone was just under the bar. Thankfully for Vaz te and his team, his mis-hit wasn’t enough to prevent them from taking a very late lead.

Blackpool would try to pour forwards, but the Hammers were up to the challenge and held off their late charge with relative ease. So, after a year in the wilderness, West Ham are back in the Premier League. It’ll take at least a little while longer for the Tangerines to return.

After 48 matches, 90 minutes (or a bit more should things go to extra time) are all that stands between a Premier League return for Blackpool or West Ham. More eyes may be focused on the Champions League final later in the day, but it’s within reason to say that the repercussions of this match could be bigger, at least for the winner.

West Ham are the favorites on paper, having spent most of the season at or near the top of the Championship. A late-season slump dropped them out of an automatic promotion spot, but they left little doubt about their label after dismantling Cardiff City 5-0 in their two-leg semifinal. This team is set up to win promotion and anything less would be looked upon as a failure for the Hammers.