West Ham United will try to put their best foot forward this week as they try to become fifth team in the last seven years, who have finished third in the Championship, to win the end of season Play-Offs to win the third and final promotion place to the Premier League from the second tier of English football.

The Hammers travel to South Wales to take on sixth place Cardiff in their Semi Final first leg on Thursday night knowing that the last time they visited the Cardiff City Stadium, just a couple of months ago, they came away with a 2-0 win. West Ham boss, Sam Allardyce, will no doubt be insisting that they can do something similar ahead of next Tuesday’s second leg but above, all he will know that the most important accomplishment would be not to lose.

West Ham in fact has a slightly better record playing away from home this season than they do at Upton Park. They have won 13 times on the road and lost only four.

Cardiffhave had their hearts broken in the Play-Offs for the last two years and have been cast by the Bookmakers as the 4/1 outsiders of the four remaining teams this year. However, they do come into the Play-offs in great form and unbeaten in their last ten league games and in Peter Whittingham, they have a player capable of unlocking any defence.

Cardiff boss, Malky Mackay, has his team in great spirits right now and knows that this first leg will not be necessarily be decisive but he would like nothing more than to  take a lead to Upton Park for the return leg.

West Ham has been made the 8/5 favourites to win this first leg withCardiffa 17/10 chance for a home win. The draw can be backed at 9/4.  In overall terms, West Ham are 8/15 odds on to qualify for the final whilstCardiffare 11/8.

In the second Play-Off first leg tie between Blackpool andBirminghamCity, it is Blackpool who have been made the narrow favourites to grab the advantage but it isBirminghamwho are 4/6 odds on favourites to get to the final over the two games.

The two teams met in the league last November and December with the first game at Blackpool being drawn 2-2 but it wasBirminghamwho triumphed atSt Andrewswinning 3-0.

Both teams come into this first leg on the back of good form, Blackpool are unbeaten in their last seven games which includes a 3-0 win over already promoted Southampton, while Birmingham are unbeaten in their last eight games which includes an impressive 2-0 win over Champions Reading.

Birminghamboss, Chris Hughton, has been heavily linked with the manager’s vacancy atWest Bromfollowing Roy Hodgson’s appointment as the new England boss. However, the speculation should have no affect on his team, who have worked wonders for him this season.

It is interesting that the three clubs all relegated from the Premiership last season find themselves in the Play-offs this term. Of the three, it would seem that West Ham are favoured to be rewarded with the quick return to the top flight, the odds to be promoted from the Championship make West Ham the 7/4 favourites ahead of Birmingham City who can be backed at 5/2 with Blackpool a bets price 10/3 chance and Cardiff the outsiders at 4/1.

West Ham are the prediction to overcome the challenge ofCardiffover the two legs but would recommend a draw as the likely outcome of this first leg. The Blackpool v Birmingham game is also a tough game to call, Blackpool have recent experience of winning the Play-Offs two years ago and a little bit more of the same attitude could seem them at least take an advantage in this first leg and go all the way to the final but West Ham look strong enough to overcome this challenge and can upkeep the recent trend of teams finishing third going on to win promotion.

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