On This Day: West Ham win at Watford to secure Play-Off place

 

West Ham United secured a place in the Championship Play-Offs with a 2-1 win at Watford on this day in 2005.

Kicking-off level on points and goal difference with Reading, the Hammers knew they needed to better the Royals' result at Wigan Athletic to finish sixth.

Two early Wigan goals settled nerves and Alan Pardew's men went in front three minutes before half-time when Anton Ferdinand volleyed home Elliott Ward's cross.

The Irons went further ahead 20 minutes from full-time when James Chambers was penalised for handball and Marlon Harewood converted the resulting penalty.

Iceland striker Heidar Helguson pulled one back from the spot for Watford late on, but it was not enough to deny West Ham victory, and a place in the Play-Offs after Reading lost 3-1 at Wigan.

Pardew's men would go on to defeat Ipswich Town in the semi-finals and Preston North End in the final to secure promotion back to the Premier League.

 

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