Carlton Cole admits it is the 'best feeling in the world' after helping West Ham United to clinch a return to the Premier League.
Striker believes West Ham deserve to be back in the Premier League
Carlton Cole admits it is the 'best feeling in the world' after helping West Ham United to clinch a return to the Premier League.
Following relegation from the top flight 12 months ago, the Hammers were installed as favourites to make a swift return after appointing Sam Allardyce as manager.
Automatic promotion eluded the club, however, as Reading won the title and Southampton hung on to claim second place on the final day of the regular season.
After overcoming Cardiff City convincingly in the play-off semi-finals, West Ham were again made favourites to see off Blackpool at Wembley and book a ticket to the promised land.
Cole opened the scoring in the first half and, after Thomas Ince equalised early in the second period, the striker set up Ricardo Vaz Te to smash home the winner with three minutes to go.
Burden
"It's more than what we deserve," Cole told
Sky Sports.
"I thought we could have played better but in the final you have to turn up and put the ball in the back of the net which we did today.
"It's the best feeling in the world.
"We were the favourites to win the league at the start of the season and with that burden Sam's done brilliantly. We had to deal with the pressure and we did that today.
"To get back at the first time of asking is more than enough."
