Carlton Cole: "It's all been worth it"

West Ham United striker Carlton Cole has said that winning promotion to the Premier League has made the club's difficult season worth it.

Cole, who opened the scoring against Blackpool, had a hand in Ricardo Vaz Te's late winner when Tangerines keeper Matt Gilks pushed his attempt on goal into the path of the former Bolton striker.

"We had a hard season but it's all been worth it now," he told the club's official website.

"It's credit to English football. The difference between the top tier and the second tier, there is not a lot in it.

"This is the top. To be a part of this is brilliant. I just need to keep on doing it."

The Hammers will join Reading and Southampton in the Premier League next season.