Steve Bruce made just one change to the Blues side, restoring former Hammer Stan Lazaridis to the starting eleven at the expense of Bryan Hughes. Darren Purse continued to deputise for the injured Kenny Cunningham, whilst Christophe Dugarry ensured it wouldn't be a final farewell to the St Andrews crowd in his final game of his loan spell by signing a new two-year contract on the pitch just moments before kick-off.
The first half, in comparison to the second was fairly uneventful, partly because Bolton Wanderers had taken an early lead at the Reebok Stadium, and consequently the West Ham players began to drop their heads a little. Ian Bennett, however, was forced into a superb one-on-one save against Jermaine Defoe. Bennett, whilst doubtless having his faults, has had a magnificent end to the season and must be about the best 'keeper in the league when it comes to one-on-ones, as his encounters with the likes of Defoe, Craig Bellamy and Nicolas Anelka of late have shown.
At the other end, England goalkeeper David James was also in fine form saving superbly from a Geoff Horsfield header fashioned by Dugarry and Lazaridis. The game was beginning to develop a hint of ill-feeling too. If West Ham had expected Blues to roll over and die, they were very much mistaken, as the likes of Robbie Savage and Stephen Clemence lunged into every challenge giving their all, and the sodden Damien Johnson (following an encounter with one of the pitch covers at the side of the pitch) began something of a dual with the ever-popular-amongst-Blues-fans Rufus Brevett. At half-time, however, the score was 0-0 - which was no good to West Ham.
The visitors came out for the second half like a new team, clearly determined to do their bit by winning, whilst praying for a Middlesbrough revival up in Lancashire. Bennett was forced into a world-class save at the feet of Les Ferdinand, whilst Defoe had another effort spectacularly cleared off the line by Matthew Upson as the three-pronged West Ham attack, including Ferdinand, Defoe and Frederic Kanoute, began to run riot, prompted expertly from midfield by the Premiership's youngest captain, Joe Cole - who himself continued his recent notoriety as something of a 'hard man' by squaring up to Horsfield. With respect to Cole, it's probably a good job things didn't go any further.
West Ham got the goal they deserved after 68 minutes, after some woeful Blues defending. A Brevett corner simply wasn't dealt with, and Cole was able to chip the ball back into the area where Ferdinand nipped in totally unmarked to glance a header past Bennett from some 6 yards. Moments later, it was almost 2-0, when Kanoute hit a magnificent volley that thundered off Bennett's upright.
However, the Hammers dreams of a great excape were hampered in the final ten minutes by a Blues side that played poorly throughout the game, but refused to give up - a trait becoming synonymous with Bruce's charges. Substitute Stern John controlled a Bennett clearance well, and laid in fellow substitute Hughes. Hughes made an excellent, probing run into the heart of the West Ham defence, before finding Horsfield whose effort flicked off Brevett and looped over James into the back of the net via the crossbar. Savage, in typical Robbie Savage style, was booked for goading Brevett after the goal.
West Ham's defence opened up, and on 88 minutes, Blues thought they had the victory which would have seen them finish tenth. Another substitute, Paul Devlin broke from deep in Blues half, and eventually laid the ball off to Hughes. Hughes had time to turn at goal, but instead played a first time ball to Savage whose cross was met brilliantly by John at the far post with a crisp left-foot volley that flew in off the bar and capped an excellent move.
It wasn't over yet though, as from the kick-off, West Ham got the ball forward to Defoe, who in the area turned and chipped up a ball to the far post that substitute Paolo Di Canio nodded home from about 2 yards. It was too little, too late for West Ham though, who through Bolton's victory over Middlesbrough, were relegated.
It was a disappointing performance from Blues, who still nearly nicked the game. However, it must be very difficult for 11 players assured of theirs and their club's futures for the following season to match another 11 players for whom everything rests on that 90 minutes. In this respect, following the chances West Ham had in the second half, Blues should be grateful for any points, if only one. Di Canio's equaliser was the difference between tenth place and thirteenth place, and £1.5 million for the club. In saying that though, nothing should be taken away from the achievement of finishing safely, mid-table in the Premiership, ahead of the likes of Leeds United, Fulham, West Ham and a certain team who play not too far away, and will now surely feel the shift in power when it comes to Second City football. At the end of the day, Blues were comfortably mid-table, whilst Aston Villa are a bottom five club. What more could we have asked for in our first season?
PLAYER RATINGS:
Bennett - Superb saves
Kenna - Toiled
Clapham - Ok
Upson - Assured
Purse - Needs games
Johnson, D - Competent, and did well defensively late on
Lazaridis - Some excellent moves
Savage - Usual tenacious self
Clemence - Not quite at his best
Horsfield - Gave 110%
Dugarry - Not as influential as ever, but still sheer class
SUBS:
John - Looked lethargic, but involved in both goals
Devlin - Lively
Hughes - Excellent impact