West Ham United turned the tables on Metz to book a place in the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history last night.

The Hammers, trailing 1-0 from the home leg, were in the driving seat by half-time as Trevor Sinclair and Frank Lampard grabbed the goals that gave them a 2-1 aggregate lead.

Substitute Nenad Jestrovic pulled a goal back for Metz in the 68th minute but the Hammers were still on course for victory on away goals.

And Paulo Wanchope fired the final nail in Metz's coffin 11 minutes from time when he latched onto a John Moncur through ball and served up a cool finish.

West Ham had the ball in the net on the quarter hour when Paulo Di Canio tucked the ball home but a linesman's flag had already gone up.

Frank Lampard's shot deflected through a crowd of players for Foe to react first with a swivelling shot that beat Letizi but again the Hammers were thwarted by the offside flag.

On 23 minutes, however, Di Canio, architect of so many of West Ham's moves, set up Sinclair whose rasping left-foot drive found the bottom of the net.

Gaillot should have equalised but he volleyed over Boffin's cross from just eight yards.

But West Ham were able to celebrate a vital second goal when Lampard played the ball down the right for Di Canio and then raced into the box to volley home the resulting cross.

Metz paid for the wasteful finishing of Louis Saha in the second half but still had enough chances to equalise.

Meyrieu, who had been a threat throughout, struck a 35-yarder that came crashing off the bar.

But substitute Jestrovic did pull a goal back for Metz in the 68th minute. He teased Steve Potts, shuffled to his left and hit a blistering effort beyond Hislop's despairing dive.

Metz piled forward but West Ham soaked up the pressure and then found a killer third goal on the break.

Moncur threaded a pass through the home defence and Wanchope cleverly rounded Letizi to put the tie beyond any doubt.

FC Metz: Letizi, Pierre (Asuar 45), Gaillot (Jager 76), Schemmel, Kastiendeuch, Meyrieu, Toyes, Marchal, Gousse (Jestrovic 56), Saha, Boffin. Subs Not Used: Rizzetto, Van Handenhoven, Biancarelli, Regis. Booked: Boffin. Goals: Jestrovic 68.

West Ham: Hislop, Ferdinand, Lomas, Foe, Sinclair, Lampard, Di Canio (Cole 79), Keller, Potts, Moncur, Wanchope. Subs Not Used: Kitson, Forrest, Carrick, Angus, Wright, Abou. Booked: Wanchope, Moncur, Hislop. Goals: Sinclair 23, Lampard 43, Wanchope 78.

Referee: Helmut Krug (Germany).