Carling Cup calamity A goalkeeper would usually know he is at fault if he was beaten by a cleanly struck Carlton Cole effort, given his form this season. When a scuffed Cole strike beats you, you know something has gone horribly wrong. Birmingham City keeper Ben Foster picked a horrible time to play a game [.

LONDON, England Ben Foster handed under-pressure Avram Grant a lifeline with a huge error to gift 10-man West Ham a narrow 2-1 lead going into the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final against Birmingham. The England stopper, who produced a series of stunning saves in the first half, failed to control Carlton Cole's [.

LONDON, England Ben Foster handed under-pressure Avram Grant a lifeline with a huge error to gift 10-man West Ham a narrow 2-1 lead going into the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final against Birmingham. The England stopper, who produced a series of stunning saves in the first half, failed to control Carlton Cole's [.

Cracking start to the second half of the season as Arsenal coasted to a win in the hostile environs of St Andrews. It is not easy to win there and for the Gunners, any trip to Birmingham dredges up bad memories, very bad memories. But they turned in a scintillating performance against a club that has only lost once in 29 other occasions at home.

Under pressure Avram Grant saw his West Ham side beat Birmingham City 2-1 in the first leg of their English League Cup semi-final.

West Ham took a deserved lead on 13 minutes when Mark Noble drove a ferocious shot through a throng of Birmingham bodies to make it one nil. West Ham continued to pile on the pressure but they could not get a second goal past Ben Foster as denied Spector, James Tomkins and, most impressively, Obinna all in the first half.

Under pressure Avram Grant saw his West Ham side beat Birmingham City 2-1 in the first leg of their English League Cup semi-final.

West Ham took a deserved lead on 13 minutes when Mark Noble drove a ferocious shot through a throng of Birmingham bodies to make it one nil. West Ham continued to pile on the pressure but they could not get a second goal past Ben Foster as denied Spector, James Tomkins and, most impressively, Obinna all in the first half.

"I don't wish I'd stuck around at all. A club like United is cutthroat, win at all costs, whereas here, you know you're not going to win every game but the players we've got bottle and don't give anyone a second breath. There is more pressure at United, without a doubt. Even if we drew there, it was the end of the world.

By Chris Wright

Having come off the bench to secure (with a smidge of 'help' from Brum keeper Ben Foster) a slender 2-1 aggregate advantage for his side in their League Cup semi-final with Birmingham last night, West Ham striker Carlton Cole celebrated after the game by getting well and truly steaming.

Birmingham keeper Ben Foster's 78th minute blunder may have cost his team a place in the League Cup Final, after his blunder gave 10 man West Ham a 2-1 win in their League Cup Semi-final 1st leg tie at Upton Park last night.

By Ollie Irish

Avram Grant was in fighting mood for once after West Ham's slightly jammy win against Birmingham in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final. Speculation that Grant is not long for Upton Park is still rife, prompting Grant to counter: "We're one point from Wigan, Fulham and other teams but with them everything is quiet.

Gameweek 23 provides us with a really super Sunday. We have the Second City, Tyne-Wear and Merseyside derbies to look forward to and if that's not enough there is Man Utd's visit to Tottenham to cap it all off. A day of goals, drama, high emotion and controversy is on the cards.

Aston Villa's short trip to St Andrews looks to be a close encounter, and it could be at the back where the points are to be had.

James Collins grabbed a point for Villa with a well taken half-volley from close range to cancel out Roger Johnson's fortuitous opener early in the 2nd half in a game that was low on quality, but high on chances, and will have done little to ease the nerves of fans of either team.

Once again it was a case of early chances wasted, Gabby practically served the opener on the plate thanks to some comedy goal keeping from Ben Foster, only to slice his effort over the bar.

BIRMINGHAM, England Birmingham's Craig Gardner booked a League Cup final showdown against Arsenal as his extra-time goal sealed a 3-1 victory over West Ham in Wednesday's semi-final second leg that secured a 4-3 aggregate win. Gardner, a boyhood Birmingham fan, capped an impressive fightback from Alex McLeish's side, who can now look forward to [.

Birmingham City are heading to their first Wembley Final for 55 years after beating West Ham 4-3 on aggregate in their Carling Cup semi-final. Birmingham will play Arsenal in the final on the 27 February.

Leading 2-1 from the first leg, West Ham seemed to have a place at Wembley all locked up when Carlton Cole put them one up (and 3-1 on aggregate) in the 31st minute.

In a departure from what some may have expected, this FA Cup tie between Birmingham City and Coventry City turned into a goal fest. The home side clawed back from a two-goal deficit to end up the victors, 3-2.

Starting Formations

BIRMINGHAM FORM: For a side who has been busy in both the League as well as making the Carling Cup final, it wasn't surprising to see them rest some starters.