West Ham United can relieve the pressure on manager Avram Grant by advancing past Birmingham City and into the Carling Cup Final on Wednesday night.
West Ham will take a one goal lead into the game at St. Andrew’s, after winning the first leg of this Carling Cup Semi-Final 2-1 at Upton Park.
Victory for either team will present these players with the chance to write a significant chapter in the history of their club. Birmingham have not won a major honor since their League Cup win in 1963, while West Ham’s last major trophy came with their FA Cup win in 1980.
Birmingham will have to turn around their recent form to get the win they need to reach Wembley Stadium. The Blues are winless in their last three games, and were beaten 5-0 at Manchester United.
Striker Cameron Jerome should be ready to play for Birmingham, but David Bentley is ineligible after playing for Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the competition.
West Ham boss Grant reached the FA Cup Final last season, and will be aiming for his second major final in consecutive seasons here. Grant will be without Victor Obinna, who is suspended following his dismissal in the first leg.
Striker Federic Piquionne is also suspended, after he was red carded for celebrating a goal by jumping into the crowd during the weekend’s draw with Everton.
The Hammers will include new signing Gary O’Neil in the squad, who completed his signing this week from Middlesbrough.
The away goals rule will come into play after extra time during this game, so a 1-0 victory for Birmingham would see them go through on the tie-breaker.
Victory for either team will present these players with the chance to write a significant chapter in the history of their club. Birmingham have not won a major honor since their League Cup win in 1963, while West Ham’s last major trophy came with their FA Cup win in 1980.
Birmingham will have to turn around their recent form to get the win they need to reach Wembley Stadium. The Blues are winless in their last three games, and were beaten 5-0 at Manchester United.
Striker Cameron Jerome should be ready to play for Birmingham, but David Bentley is ineligible after playing for Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the competition.
West Ham boss Grant reached the FA Cup Final last season, and will be aiming for his second major final in consecutive seasons here. Grant will be without Victor Obinna, who is suspended following his dismissal in the first leg.
Striker Federic Piquionne is also suspended, after he was red carded for celebrating a goal by jumping into the crowd during the weekend’s draw with Everton.
The Hammers will include new signing Gary O’Neil in the squad, who completed his signing this week from Middlesbrough.
The away goals rule will come into play after extra time during this game, so a 1-0 victory for Birmingham would see them go through on the tie-breaker.
