Now Pardew wants to have the final say

"A lot of people said we didn't turn up for the final last year. This time we have to try to dominate the game and whether it's Preston or Derby - I think they both deserve to be in the final - it's a match I'm really looking forward to.

"It's about time West Ham returned to the game's top table."

Pardew conceded that Ipswich were favourites last night, having clawed their way back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Upton Park. What swung the tie in West Ham's favour was his decision to radically modify his tactics.

His decision to outnumber Ipswich in midfield and play up tight against their captain and creative force, Jim Magilton, drastically curtailed their attacking momentum. He also asked his top scorer Marlon Harewood to play wide on the right and both West Ham's goals came as a direct result of his contributions on the right flank.

The chief beneficiary of Harewood's modified role was Bobby Zamora, who scored both goals. "He's had as much criticism as me this season so I was thrilled for him," said Pardew. "I was delighted when he scored that special goal because it gave us breathing space towards the end of a tight game."

Zamora's performance has almost certainly secured his starting place in the final in Cardiff on 30 May even though Teddy Sheringham is expected to be fit. Zamora has deputised for the former England striker in the last four games. "I think Teddy will be fine but I don't think he'll start," said Pardew. "Bobby has done brilliantly for me. I might have one or two selection problems. Carl Fletcher came back into the side, for instance, and he also did brilliantly.

"In fact I was delighted with all my players. We decided on a different tactical set-up and they applied my plan to the letter. We grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and some of our football was a pleasure to watch."

Although Ipswich retained possession well, they had no real cutting edge unlike West Ham who were consistently more threatening. The Ipswich goalkeeper Kelvin Davis made fine saves from Nigel Reo-Coker and Zamora before West Ham finally beat him in the 61st minute.

The impressive Fletcher sent Harewood powering down the right flank and his cross, driven low to the far post, fell into the path of the unmarked Zamora, who scored with a simple tap-in.

His second goal in the 72nd minute was a mini-classic. Harewood was again a key figure as he carried the ball from the right-back position deep into the Ipswich half. He picked out Zamora with a long, high pass that dipped between two Ipswich defenders. As the ball dropped over his right shoulder, Zamora connected with his left foot, lifting a lobbed shot over the stranded goalkeeper.

For Ipswich it was the fifth time in nine years they have suffered this end-of-season heartbreak.

They finished third in the table, 12 points ahead of West Ham. "There's a sense of injustice, but that's the format," said Ipswich manager Joe Royle. "It's hard to take but on the night you can't argue that West Ham had a bit more than us in all departments."