A late error by young Birmingham City goalkeeper Ben Foster gifted West Ham a 2-1 edge after the first leg of their Carling Cup Semi-Final clash.
Liam Ridgewell had cancelled out West Ham midfielder Mark Noble’s opener, before Foster allowed Carlton Cole’s shot to squirm through his grasp in the 78th minute. West Ham scored their late winner despite having been reduced to 10 men when Victor Obinna was dismissed.
West Ham endured a lot of pre-game speculation about the future of their manager Avram Grant, who is aiming to make his second Cup Final in consecutive years. They looked to have put it to the back of their minds as they started strongly. Freddie Sears volleyed wide from an early chance before Matthew Upson forced a good reaction save from Foster.
West Ham took the lead inside the opening quarter hour as Noble fired an excellent volley past Foster from a tight angle. The Hammers continued to pour on the pressure, but a series of good saves from Foster kept the score down to 1-0 at half-time.
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish likely had some harsh words for his troops at the break, and the Blues came out firing in the second period. Craig Gardner fired wide from a free-kick, and striker Cameron Jerome was denied when his header was cleared off the goal line by Sears.
Ridgewell leveled the scores and gave Birmingham an important away goal in the 58th minute when he headed home Sebastian Larsson’s corner. Things got better for the Blues soon after when the Hammers were reduced to 10 men after Obinna petulantly kicked out at Larsson.
David Murphy almost put the visitors in front soon after Obinna’s dismissal, but his header drifted agonizingly wide of Rob Green’s goal post.
West Ham brought on Carlton Cole in the 73rd minute, and the England striker would go on to net the winning goal five minutes later. American fullback Jonathan Spector was released down the right, and his cross was met by Cole with a scuffed finish. Despite the ball not being hit cleanly, it rolled under the hand of Green to give the Hammers a slight edge ahead of travelling to Birmingham for the second leg.
West Ham endured a lot of pre-game speculation about the future of their manager Avram Grant, who is aiming to make his second Cup Final in consecutive years. They looked to have put it to the back of their minds as they started strongly. Freddie Sears volleyed wide from an early chance before Matthew Upson forced a good reaction save from Foster.
West Ham took the lead inside the opening quarter hour as Noble fired an excellent volley past Foster from a tight angle. The Hammers continued to pour on the pressure, but a series of good saves from Foster kept the score down to 1-0 at half-time.
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish likely had some harsh words for his troops at the break, and the Blues came out firing in the second period. Craig Gardner fired wide from a free-kick, and striker Cameron Jerome was denied when his header was cleared off the goal line by Sears.
Ridgewell leveled the scores and gave Birmingham an important away goal in the 58th minute when he headed home Sebastian Larsson’s corner. Things got better for the Blues soon after when the Hammers were reduced to 10 men after Obinna petulantly kicked out at Larsson.
David Murphy almost put the visitors in front soon after Obinna’s dismissal, but his header drifted agonizingly wide of Rob Green’s goal post.
West Ham brought on Carlton Cole in the 73rd minute, and the England striker would go on to net the winning goal five minutes later. American fullback Jonathan Spector was released down the right, and his cross was met by Cole with a scuffed finish. Despite the ball not being hit cleanly, it rolled under the hand of Green to give the Hammers a slight edge ahead of travelling to Birmingham for the second leg.
