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West Ham are one step away from returning to the Premier League after easing their way into the Championship play-off final with an emphatic victory over Cardiff City. Goals from Kevin Nolan, Ricardo Vaz Tê and Nicky Maynard enabled Sam Allardyce's side to improve on their first-leg victory and complete a 5-0 aggregate triumph. West Ham will take on either Blackpool or Birmingham City at Wembley on 19 May and will begin as strong favourites after a pair of semi-final performances worthy of the most expensive squad in the second tier.

Anticipating an early onslaught from a Cardiff side eager to atone for their tame showing in the first leg, ...

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