Classic match
Cardiff City 0-2 West Ham United
Championship Play-Off semi-final
3 May 2012
West Ham United took a giant stride back towards the top table of English football with this Jack Collison-inspired 2-0 win at Cardiff City.
Unbeaten in six headed into the first leg, they were in front inside just nine minutes courtesy of the Wales international. Ricardo Vaz Te chased a seemingly lost cause and was suitably rewarded as his cross picked out Collison, who headed home after his volley had been kept out by David Marshall.
It was that man Collison who doubled the Hammers' advantage four minutes before the interval. Ben Turner was only able to clear a corner as far as the Watford-born midfielder, who controlled on his chest before blasting goalward. With Marshall already committed to his right, Collison's strike took a wicked deflection off Liam Lawrence before nestling in the opposite corner.
Though Cardiff rallied after the break, Kenny Miller was unable to convert a series of half chances, as the Hammers took a commanding lead back to the Boleyn Ground. In the end it proved plenty, with a 3-0 win in the second leg propelling Sam Allardyce's men to an ultimately triumphant Wembley date.
Complete record - 3 May
2012 Cardiff City 0-2 West Ham United (Championship Play-Off semi-final)
2008 Manchester United 4-1 West Ham United (Premier League)
2003 West Ham United 1-0 Chelsea (Premier League)
1997 West Ham United 5-1 Sheffield Wednesday (Premier League)
1995 West Ham United 0-0 Queens Park Rangers (Premier League)
1994 Queens Park Rangers 0-0 West Ham United (Premier League)
1989 Newcastle United 1-2 West Ham United (Division One)
1986 West Bromwich Albion 2-3 West Ham United (Division One)
1983 Ipswich Town 1-2 West Ham United (Division One)
1980 Bristol Rovers 0-2 West Ham United (Division Two)
1947 West Ham United 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday (Division Two)
1930 Newcastle United 1-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1924 Manchester City 2-1 West Ham United (Division One)
Played 13, Won 8, Drawn 2, Lost 3, Scored 21, Conceded 13
