Big Hammers connection in play-off triumph

Josh Cullen celebrating after an amazing victory

Hammers past and present played a massive role in the most dramatic of play-off finals at Wembley as Charlton Athletic returned to the Championship this afternoon (Sun)

On-loan Josh Cullen and manager Lee Bowyer were central figures as the Addicks came from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1  – the winner coming 20 seconds from the end.

And it was Cullen who was the the architect – knocking off a very quick free kick as time ran out – for Patrick Bauer to meet a cross from the left and crash his shot home.

The Hammers midfielder’s football brain was behind the goal after a game in which he had been prominent throughout.

At the end former Hammer Bowyer, who started both his playing and managerial careers at Charlton, said: “I’m so proud of the players – they kept going and going and gave me everything. This is probably the greatest moment of my career.”

Cullen meanwhile will now be heading back to the Hammers for pre-season where he has given Manuel Pellegrini a big decision to make on his future.

Watching on was another former Hammers boss Alan Curbishley as the south Londoners completed the most incredible of comebacks.