West Ham United have had to settle for a playoff place despite a 2-1 victory over Hull City at Upton Park.
The home side should have been ahead in the third minute of the match but Ricardo Vaz Te managed to miss the target with his header from close range.
Hull goalkeeper Vito Mannone had to be alert to tip over a Matthew Taylor cross that seemed to be heading into the far corner of the goal on the half-hour mark.
From the resulting corner Sam Allardyce's team made the breakthrough as Carlton Cole beat Tom Cairney to the ball and headed past Mannone to make it 1-0.
Vaz Te was once again wasteful in front of goal as he dragged his shot wide when put through by Cole.
The hosts extended their lead just minutes after the restart as Cole collected Henri Lansbury's accurate cross before slotting past Mannone for his second of the match.
Gary O'Neil almost scored West Ham's third of the match but Mannone was on hand to brilliantly deny the midfielder.
Hull pulled a goal back in the 81st minute as Corry Evans found space in the six-yard box to head past Robert Green.
Richard Garcia thought he had snatched a draw for the visitors but his headed goal was ruled out for offside in the closing stages.
Callum Mulvihill
