Championship play-off semi-final, second leg Ipswich 0 West Ham 2 (Agg: 2-4) Teddy Sheringham is a tough man to replace. Bobby Zamora, a boyhood West Ham fan, has filled the void perfectly, though. After scoring a crucial goal in the first leg, Zamora twice capitalised on incisive passes from Marlon Harewood in this match and ensured Ipswich's miserable play-off record was extended.
This was the seventh time Ipswich have ended their season at the play-off stage and the second consecutive year West Ham have been their nemesis. The Hammers play the winners of tonight's game between Derby County and Preston.
The game started at a frenetic speed with the momentum swinging from one side to the other. West Ham had the first sighting of goal as Harewood controlled the ball cleverly on his knee, spun and unleashed a long-range effort that went wide.
Ipswich's response was swift as Tommy Miller's venomous shot was only prevented from threatening the target by Carl Fletcher's block with his outstretched right leg. Darren Currie had an even better chance when West Ham failed to clear a long throw but, unmarked, he directed the ball straight at James Walker.
There was also some genuine class on show, mainly from Matthew Etherington. He eased his way through the Ipswich defence after 15 minutes and forced Davis to parry a shot before Richard Naylor nudged out for a corner. Etherington instigated West Ham's next break as he fed Chris Powell. The left back whipped the ball into Zamora, who cushioned it on his chest but could not beat Kelvin Davis.
West Ham were starting to impose themselves, though, and it was not long before Etherington was being targeted by Ipswich again as they looked to stem the flow of their opponents' attacks. He had received some harsh treatment from Fabian Wilnis in the first leg and he was subjected to some more when Ian Westlake's nasty tackle earned the Ipswich player a booking.
Harewood surged through but lost his balance in a threatening position and it was beginning to look similar to the first leg, with West Ham regretting wasting their early dominance. They nearly did when Currie's swerving long-range effort was fumbled by Walker who was lucky that the power of the shot meant that it looped over the bar rather than into the back of the net.
West Ham proceeded to exert pressure with Tomas Repka twice bursting down the right and forcing Davis into saves.
Half-time did little to change the pattern of the game as Repka started the second half by making another galloping run. But worryingly for West Ham, chances were still falling to Ipswich. Westlake created a chance when he reacted quickly to Chris Powell's header forward and struck a first-time shot that just flew over.
West Ham were not perturbed by Ipswich's new-found energy and Alan Pardew's team soon took a deserved lead. Fletcher's raking pass picked out Harewood who spun around Richards and drilled a low cross into the six-yard box where Zamora gleefully tucked the ball in.
Ipswich's next free-kick, from the opposite side of the field from Magilton, was dealt with easily and West Ham counter-attacked. Harewood launched a high pass towards Zamora who leapt with both feet off the ground and produced a sumptuous volley.
IPSWICH: Davis, Wilnis, De Vos, Naylor, Richards, Currie, Magilton (Bowditch 75), Miller, Westlake, Bent, Kuqi. Subs Not Used: Price, Diallo, Horlock, Juan. Booked: Westlake.
WEST HAM: Walker, Repka (Dailly 76), Ferdinand, Ward, Powell, Mullins, Fletcher, Reo-Coker, Etherington (Noble 89), Harewood, Zamora (Newton 79). Subs Not Used: Bywater, Rebrov. Booked: Harewood. Goals: Zamora 61, 72.
Referee: S Dunn (Gloucestershire).
