Source: Daily_Mail
Birmingham 3 West Ham 1: Craig Gardner sends Blues through to Carling Cup final
Craig Gardner must have imagined striking the shot that took his favourite club to Wembley a million times over as a boy.[LNB]He did it for real last night as Birmingham completed the mother of all fightbacks to extend West Ham's 30-year wait for a Wembley final.[LNB]It had looked all over for the hosts after Carlton Cole spectacularly fired the Hammers a goal up after the first leg into the lead on the night, doubling their aggregate advantage near the end of the first half.[LNB]Done it: Birmingham players celebrate victory[LNB]That left Alex McLeish's side needing to find two goals in just under an hour to force the match into extra-time.[LNB]Lee Bowyer started the comeback with a fiercely-driven shot on 59 minutes and Roger Johnson's towering header from Seb Larsson's corner brought the additional half-hour.[LNB]Gardner had almost settled the tie in the final minute of regulation time, but West Ham keeper Robert Green parried his 20-yard drive on to a post.[LNB]It was the second occasion the Hammers woodwork had been hit. However, there was no reprieve within minutes when Gardner's third attempt struck home. The England Under 21 midfielder was given a helping hand by Green's suspect attempt at a stop but the decisive goal was probably merited as Avram Grant's side imploded for the second time in these two legs.[LNB]Blue boy: Lee Bowyer scores for Birmingham City[LNB]At half-time during both legs it seemed unlikely that a team so dominant would not turn that superiority into victory. At Upton Park, they were saved by Ben Foster's dreadful gaffe.There was to be no repeat at St Andrew's last night.[LNB]Cole's magnificent opening goal knocked the stuffing out of the hosts in the first half, but McLeish turned to £6million striker Nikola Zigic, who went on after half-time in place of the ineffectual Matt Derbyshire. It was to prove a masterstroke.[LNB]With a 6ft 8in target, and a home crowd urging McLeish's men forward, suddenly there were nerves aplenty in the West Ham ranks.[LNB]Heads up: Roger Johnson (left) brought Birmingham level[LNB]A string of second-half corners was rewarded when the ball fell to Bowyer, who produced one of those half-volleys that either hits the roof of the stand or the roof of the net. This did the latter.[LNB]Cole had taken advantage brilliantly of a moment's confusion in midfield to take the ball forward and curl it beyond Foster. Bowyer's effort was every bit as well-struck.[LNB]That left Birmingham with 31 minutes to find the goal that would force the tie into extra time.[LNB] Third time lucky: Craig Gardner (left) fires shot past keeper Robert Green (right) [LNB]Somehow, referee Howard Webb failed to give a penalty when the ball struck Wayne Bridge's arm in his own area.[LNB]MATCH FACTSBIRMINGHAM CITY (4-4-2): Foster 6;Carr 6, Jiranek 6, Johnson 7,Ridgewell, 6; Larsson 6 (Beausejour101), Gardner 8 (Murphy 101),Ferguson 6, Bowyer 6; Derbyshire 5(Zigic 46min, 7), Jerome 5.Subs not used: Taylor, Phillips, Fahey, Hleb.Booked: Gardner, Ferguson.WEST HAM UNITED (4-4-2): Green 6;Faubert 6, Tomkins 7, Upson 7,Bridge 6; Spector 6 (McCarthy 106), Noble 7, Parker 7, Boa Morte 6(O'Neil 83); Hines 6 (Dyer 71, 6),Cole 8.Subs not used: Boffin, Reid, Gabbidon, Sears.Booked: Green, Dyer, Tomkins, Cole.Man of the match: Craig Gardner.Referee: Howard Webb 7.[LNB]Birmingham fans still haven't forgotten David Elleray's failure to award a spot kick in the 2001 Worthington Cup final when Stephane Henchoz's tackle on Andrew Johnson went unpunished. But the home side pressed forward and were rewarded eventually.[LNB]The only surprise was that the second goal did not come from the head of Zigic.[LNB]Instead, the honour fell to Johnson. It was a simple affair. Larsson's corner was drilled near the penalty spot and the centre half headed it into the bottom corner.[LNB]McLeish's men went for the kill and Gardner hit the post.His moment was to come in extra-time when West Ham allowed him far too much room on the edge of the area and he slammed the ball into the bottom corner.[LNB]Cue scenes of joy everywhere, apart from among the 3,800 travelling supporters from east London who had to watch a trip to the home of English football being wrenched from their grasp in horrible fashion.[LNB]West Ham still had chances after Gardner had grabbed the third. Birmingham's supporters are not used to glory and were not about to begin their celebrations early. It was to prove a wise decision.[LNB]Kieron Dyer spooned an effort over and an acrobatic Cole effort was grasped by Foster as if he was catching a new-born baby.[LNB]St Andrew's erupted at the final whistle. It was difficult not to feel a shred of sympathy for West Ham's supporters. They have waited a long time. But their most prominent figures, the owners, made the correct call in staying away. They would have hated this.[LNB]Hot shot: Carlton Cole puts the Hammers 3-1 up with a stunning strike[LNB]But it was a night when good, old-fashioned virtues like guts and determination won through.[LNB]Perhaps even Birmingham owner Carson Yeung might appreciate what he has in McLeish.[LNB]His throw of the dice at half-time by bringing on Zigic had worked a treat.[LNB]West Midlands Police made 14 arrests after violence flared around St Andrew's before kick-off.[LNB] Sullivan and Gold to stay away from St Andrew's for fear of jinxing West HamWest Ham midfielder Behrami completes £4m move to Fiorentina Birmingham v West Ham: The action as it happenedAll the latest Birmingham City news, features and opinionAll the latest West Ham United news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Carlton Cole, Craig Gardner, Roger Johnson, Lee Bowyer, Robert Green, Matt Derbyshire, Alex McLeish, Wayne Bridge, Kieron Dyer, Ben Foster Places: Birmingham, London
