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West Ham United 2-1 Middlesbrough
Match Reports, 18:08, May 24, 2009 ,
Middlesbrough were unable to complete the great escape as defeat at West Ham rubber-stamped their relegation.
Carlton Cole and Junior Stanislas were on target for the home side, scoring either side of Gary O'Neill's strike for Boro.
West Ham took the lead courtesy of Cole's goal on 33 minutes. The striker rolled the ball home after Herita Ilunga put Luis Boa Morte's cross back across the face of goal.
Before that the Hammers had gone close to breaking the deadlock when Stanislas rattled the woodwork.
Boro levelled terms four minutes after half time, O'Neill firing across Robert Green into the back of the net after being put in by Tuncay.
However, Gianfranco Zola's troops re-established their lead on 57 minutes as Stanislas beat Brad Jones with a low shot into the bottom corner, to ensure West Ham finished the season on a high, and leave Boro contemplating Championship football.