The much-maligned - by West Ham fans - Bobby Zamora scored both goals in the second half as Ipswich ran out of ideas to break down a well-marshalled Hammers rearguard.

Former West Ham apprentice Darren Currie worked hard for Town and had the home side's best chance, but buried his volley in Jimmy Walker's midriff, instead of the back of the net.

The game got off to a surprisingly quiet start after Saturday's explosive 2-2 draw at Upton Park, but Currie had his great chance on 12 minutes when Jason De Vos flicked on a Fabian Wilnis long throw, but his shot was too close to Walker.

Hammers danger-man Matt Etherington then got clear down the left, but Kelvin Davis parried his low drive and Richard Naylor cleared the loose ball.

Zamora then got on the end of a Chris Powell cross, but his weak effort was easy for Davis, but surprisingly few chances were being created at this point.

Naylor and Anton Ferdinand glanced headers wide from corners at either end, before the already-booked Ian Westlake was fortunate to stay on after tripping Nigel Reo-Coker as he looked to race clear.

Walker almost made a huge blunder on 36 minutes when Currie tried a speculative shot from 35 yards which swerved late - the keeper just getting enough on it to knock the ball over.

Wilnis almost turned a dangerous low Tomas Repka cross into his own net just after the interval before Davis got down well to field low drives from Reo-Coker and Zamora.

Town felt they had a good shout for a penalty on 58 minutes when Ferdinand nudged Darren Bent just inside the box, but Premiership referee Steve Dunn said no.

Anton Ferdiand Celebrates

Three minutes later West Ham went ahead when Marlon Harewood beat Matt Richards for pace and crossed low for Zamora to tap in from a couple of yards.

Town huffed and puffed before West Ham made it 2-0 on 72 minutes with their next attack, Harewood's floated cross superbly guided home on the volley by Zamora.

Sub Dean Bowditch got on the end of a superb Currie throughball on 78 minutes with a great first touch, but he lost control with his second and it bobbled behind.

Bowditch also had a shot deflected narrowly wide with five minutes to go while Bent guided a header wide when he really should have scored from a pinpoint Richards cross in stoppage time.

West Ham, who brought on Christian Dailly and Mark Noble and left Harewood up on his own towards the end, were happy to soak up the pressure on one of those nights when it looked as if Ipswich would never score.

So it proved and now the much-criticised Alan Pardew is a possible 90 minutes away from a return to the Premiership, and the chance to atone for last year's defeat to Crystal Palace in Cardiff.

As for Ipswich, they have now fallen at this stage in six of their seven play-off appearances, and must now brace themselves to lose key players like Bent and Davis before the new campaign begins in August.

Managers Reactions

"We're all very disappointed, but I don't think we can argue as they were better than us in most departments. This is no time for criticism or recriminations, as the players have performed a soccer miracle to finish third.

"If there was a difference, maybe they had a little extra class up front with their two multi-million pound strikers, although our two have done fantastically for us this season.

Pardew: Like an annoying rash that won't go away

"I don't think we've had a break or a decision over the two games. We could have had a penalty tonight, but I'm not blaming the ref that things went wrong for us.

"The players have done fantastically to finish third, they've done amazingly well. We've only got a couple of senior pros, a few free transfers and one buy.

"It won't be easy to pick the players up. They'll have a six-week break and then we'll see who's here and who's not here. It's hard to digest, we've been there all season and been top for a couple of months.

"If you'd promised me the play-offs before the season I would have grabbed it with both hands, but to come third and lose is a bit of injustice, but that's the system. Had we won the play-offs, my view on them wouldn't have changed."
 

Meanwhile Hammers boss Alan Pardew said: "We came here with a different tactical line-up to normal and the players carried it out to the letter of the law. They were brilliant tonight.

"The start was a little bit hairy, but I felt we grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck as it went on and we were a pleasure to watch tonight.

"We played so well in the second leg last year and were jumping up and down but lost the final, so we are not jumping up and down tonight, as we still carry the hurt from last year.

"I am so pleased for Bobby Zamora to get the two goals, the second one was a special one. He has had a lot of criticism, but he was fantastic for us tonight. Bobby is a West Ham fan and he has to carry that pressure onto the pitch, but he is getting more comfortable in the shirt.

"We have to make sure we are dominant in the final. People said we didn't play last year, which I felt was harsh. This will be my third final, and I have lost the other two, so hopefully that third time lucky shout will be coming in.

"We will prepare thoroughly, but really it is all about the players. If we play as well as we did tonight and keep our heads, then we will win the final."

Joe, fair play to him in defeat did not whinge or complain, but did make the suttle point that his team over the course of 46 games, were better than West Ham.

While Alan Pardew came out with the idiotic comment of "back into the Premiership where we belong", not only is it the fans who feel that West Ham have a devine right to be in the Premiership, but also their manager does too.

Come on Preston or Derby!