Last Updated: Sat, 28 Apr 2012 14:59
West Ham missed out on automatic promotion back to the Barclays Premier League despite a 2-1 victory over Hull.
Two goals from Carlton Cole were not enough to overhaul Southampton, whose 4-0 win against Coventry ensured they held onto second spot in the npower Championship and instead, the play-offs beckon for Sam Allardyce and his side, who will face Cardiff in the first leg on Thursday.
Allardyce had planned to be in Las Vegas on May 19 watching Amir Khan's next fight, but now he hopes to be at Wembley instead as the Hammers attempt to secure promotion the hard way.
Matt Taylor clipped the crossbar with a curling cross before West Ham got their noses in front in the 35th minute when Cole met Mark Noble's corner with a downward header which Paul McKenna could not keep out on the goal-line.
Three minutes after the break the lead was doubled when Cole controlled Lansbury's cross on his chest and expertly dinked the ball over advancing Mannone.
Hull had barely threatened Rob Green's goal, but were gifted a consolation with 10 minutes left when Guy Demel's ludicrous header let in Corry Evans to nod the ball home.
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