Sam Allardyce is confident West Ham can handle the pressure of a Wembley play-off final and secure promotion back to the Premier League.
Boss calling for Cardiff repeat at Wembley
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is confident his side can handle the pressure of a Wembley play-off final and secure promotion back to the Premier League.
The Hammers were denied automatic promotion on the final day of the regular Championship season by Southampton, setting up a play-off semi-final tie with Cardiff City.
The Londoners subsequently breezed past Malky Mackay's men, winning 2-0 in Cardiff before a 3-0 victory at Upton Park on Monday rounded off a 5-0 aggregate rout.
Allardyce will now lead his team out at Wembley in the final against either Birmingham or Blackpool, who play the second leg of their semi-final at St Andrew's on Wednesday evening.
The former Bolton boss insists his side will not be overawed by the occasion on 19th May and is confident of reaching the promised land of the Premier League should they perform like they did against the Bluebirds.
He said: "I've no doubts we'll handle this pressure. It's a better stage to go and deliver on, isn't it, Wembley?
Very difficult
"I don't know who I would prefer to play - whoever we play it's going to be very difficult.
"We can now look forward to it and make sure we deliver what we've all wanted right from day one.
"We'll be difficult to beat if we reproduce the performances against Cardiff.
"We've all delivered - whether we can deliver in the final now is the ask."
The Championship play-off final is widely considered the richest game in world football given the immense wealth on offer to those who make it up to the Premier League.
Having managed three Premier League sides Allardyce is all too aware of the riches on offer in England's top flight.
More pressure
However, Allardyce admits he felt more pressure trying to keep his former side Bolton in the top flight back on the final day of the 2002/03 season than he does preparing for Wembley today.
He added: "We had to beat Middlesbrough at home and by doing so we sent West Ham down, so I probably shouldn't mention it!
"But that was more pressure than a Wembley final.
"We were chasing the millions as always and chasing Premier League status.
"It was massive because Bolton are still in the Premier League. That's nine years times £50million - which is a big bank-roll."
