WEST HAM TOOK the next step in their bid to make an immediate return to the Premier League, beating Cardiff City in the play-off semi-final at Upton Park on Monday.

The Hammers were already 2-0 up from the first leg but wasted little time in extending their advantage even further.

A corner from Matthew Taylor found the head of Carlton Cole inside the six-yard box.

While that was blocked by the Bluebirds’ defence, Kevin Nolan was on hand to nod in the rebound.

West Ham almost made it 2-0 on the day when Gary O’Neil’s effort came off the crossbar, but their efforts paid off just before half-time when Ricardo Vaz Te took a pass from Guy Demel before blasting the ball past David Marshall.

Everything was comfortable for West Ham in the second half as the Welsh side knew their promotion hopes had been dashed for another year.

Nicky Maynard, only on the pitch for four minutes as a replacement for Cole, sealed the win for Sam Allardyce’s side with an emphatic finish from Henri Lansbury’s pass.

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