Bobby Zamora struck the second-half goal that took West Ham back into the Premiership after a two-year absence.

The England Under-21 international scored from close range in the 58th minute of the Championship play-off final against Preston after Claude Davis had slipped attempting to clear Matthew Etherington's left-wing cross.

This win is as much of a relief for the east London club off the field as it is on it.

With a reported £30million worth of debt, Alan Pardew's side needed to win to claim the estimated £20m jackpot for entering the Premiership.

Failure was not an option as they were no longer eligible for the £6m parachute payment given to Championship clubs in their first two seasons after dropping out of the Premiership.

The Hammers, who deserved to win, also had to contend with what appeared to be a serious injury to goalkeeper Jimmy Walker, who seemed to damage his knee catching a cross late on and was replaced by Stephen Bywater.

Preston boss Billy Davies will rue the fact that his side rarely played as well as they can, and Marlon Harewood, Zamora and Etherington all missed chances to make it more convincing for the Hammers, while Tomas Repka hit the post early on.

And praise must be given to Elliott Ward, who was outstanding at the back for West Ham.

West Ham boss Pardew reverted to a 4-4-2 formation, with Shaun Newton - who has twice been successful in play-off finals - coming in on the right of midfield with Carl Fletcher dropping to the bench.

Davies opted to leave fit-again Graham Alexander on the bench and stick with the XI that drew 0-0 at Derby to clinch a 2-0 aggregate triumph in the semi-final.

West Ham held the edge for most of the first half, as Preston looked nervous and key midfielder Paul McKenna struggled to get on the ball.

Zamora, preferred in attack to the fit-again Teddy Sheringham, looked bright early on, and created a terrific chance for his side in the fifth minute.

The former Brighton striker's crossfield pass released Newton on the right, whose perfectly-timed through ball allowed the overlapping Repka to send a right-foot shot against the outside of Carlo Nash's left post from close range.

With less than a minute on the clock, Nash had been forced to make a flying punch to clear Chris Powell's left-wing cross, and the goalkeeper was relieved to see Repka's shot strike wood.

Zamora believed he should have won a penalty when he fell under Youl Mawene's challenge following a mistake by Eddie Lewis, but referee Mike Riley saw no infringement.

Preston were struggling to trouble the West Ham back four, their 20-year-old striker David Nugent starved of service in attack.

But Nugent was involved in one of his side's best moments of the half, a cleverly-worked free-kick that ended with Anton Ferdinand hooking Richard Cresswell's cross to safety.

Back came West Ham, though, Zamora setting up left-winger Etherington for a rising 12-yard shot that Nash was able to push over his bar.

The bad feeling that had characterised Preston's two league wins over the Hammers this term was never far from bubbling to the surface, and in the 28th minute West Ham midfielder Hayden Mullins was booked for squaring up to Brian O'Neil.

Although he was rarely involved, Nugent's touch and talent were evident when he did receive the ball.

Controlling a 50-yard ball from Mawene instantly, the former Bury striker ran at Repka but the Czech defender did just enough to avert the danger.

In the final minute of the half, Nigel Reo-Coker broke from midfield for West Ham and fed Zamora, who managed to dispossess Claude Davis - only for the Jamaican centre-back to make a fine recovery tackle and turn the ball behind for a corner.

Preston started brightly after the break, and Cresswell's firm header from McKenna's right-wing corner was headed off the line by Newton.

But Billy Davies' side had an incredible escape two minutes later. First Nash did brilliantly to keep out Harewood's close-range effort, then Mawene cleared Zamora's follow-up shot off the line and when the ball broke to Harewood, Nash did well again to gather his left-foot attempt at the second time of asking.

The Hammers had to wait six more minutes to take the lead.

Harewood put Etherington clear on the left, and when the former Spurs man crossed Davis slipped at the vital moment, allowing Zamora to steer a shot into the bottom-right corner from eight yards.

Preston tried to respond. In the 64th minute, Nugent ran at the West Ham defence and created space for himself, but shot too close to Hammers goalkeeper Jimmy Walker.

And three minutes later, Cresswell volleyed wide from the edge of the area after Nugent had headed the ball intelligently into his path.

Pardew was involved in an angry exchange with Mawene 12 minutes from time, the West Ham manager believing that Preston should have kicked the ball out of play immediately after Newton went down with cramp inside the North End area.

Two minutes later, Cresswell headed Lewis' left-wing corner straight into the arms of Walker, who was forced off in the 88th minute after falling awkwardly.

Substitute 'keeper Bywater then saved McKenna's driven free-kick, and Ward hooked a Matt Hill cross clear as West Ham secured a return to the top flight.

Teams:

West Ham Walker (Bywater 87), Repka, Ferdinand, Ward, Powell, Newton (Noble 82), Reo-Coker, Mullins, Etherington, Harewood, Zamora (Dailly 74).

Subs Not Used: Sheringham, Fletcher.

Booked: Mullins, Walker.

Goals: Zamora 57.

Preston Nash, Mawene (Alexander 87), Davis, Lucketti, Hill, Sedgwick (Agyemang 71), McKenna, O'Neil (Etuhu 81), Lewis, Cresswell, Nugent.

Subs Not Used: Broomes, Ward.

Booked: Hill, Mawene.

Att: 70,275

Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire).