Grant indebted to Foster blunder

11 January 2011 22:30
Blundering Ben Foster may have saved Avram Grant's job as 10-man West Ham survived a moment of madness from Victor Obinna to beat Birmingham 2-1 in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final. England goalkeeper Foster allowed a powder-puff shot from substitute Carlton Cole to squirm through his legs after Obinna looked to have cost the Hammers dear by crazily kicking Sebastian Larsson in the groin. Rightly sent off, Obinna had been central to a sterling first half from the home side, which saw Mark Noble deservedly put them ahead, arguably with the help of another Foster error. Former West Ham trainee Liam Ridgewell levelled after the break and the visitors looked set to go on and win before Foster's howler.

Source: PA