Sam Allardyce says West Ham will win promotion in the play-offs
- Published
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce is confident West Ham can seal their return to the Premier League via the play-offs.
The Hammers were pipped to automatic promotion by Southampton, despite beating Hull City 2-1 on the final day of the season.
"We have to lick our wounds and get ready for the vital games ahead of us," said Allardyce, whose side face Cardiff City in the play-off semi-final.
"We still have three games to win, and we will do it."
Carlton Cole scored twice to set up victory over the Tigers, but it mattered little as Southampton eased to a 4-0 win against already-relegated Coventry.
Just two points separated the Saints and West Ham, and the Londoners will regret a number of dropped points at Upton Park during the course of the season.
Win was not enough today - Allardyce
They won a club record 13 games on the road, but dropped 28 points on their own turf to slip out of the top two.
"We've had a very good season considering where we've come from," Allardyce said. "In the last few years 86 points has been enough.
"Our ultimate goal was not achieved, we left ourselves too much to do, but we'll wake up on Sunday morning and look forward to preparing for the play-offs.
"I stuck my neck out when I arrived and said we wanted promotion in the first season.
"I've got a two-year contract but doing it in the first season is important."
Allardyce's opposite number on Saturday, Nick Barmby, was disappointed to be beaten but admitted the Hammers face a tough task in the play-offs.
"Will West Ham go up? It's hard to say, there are some good teams in the play-offs so it will be interesting," he said.