Source: Daily_Mail
West Ham v Birmingham live
Follow Sportsmail's coverage of this week's first Carling Cup semi-final between West Ham and Birmingham at Upton Park. Both sides will be keen to put their troubled league form behind them by winning the first leg and giving themselves a great chance of a trip to Wembley. Email me all your thoughts on the action at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk[LNB] West Ham 2-1 Birmingham (7.45pm)West Ham: Green, Faubert, Tomkins,Reid, Upson, Spector, Sears (Hines 74), Noble (Kovac 90), Parker, Obinna, Piquionne (Cole 73).Subs:Boffin, Boa Morte, Nouble, Spence.[LNB]Goals: Noble 13, Cole 78.[LNB]Birmingham: Foster, Carr, Dann (Murphy 46), Johnson, Ridgewell, Larsson (Zigic 87), Gardner,Hleb (Beausejour 83), Ferguson, Fahey, Jerome.Subs: Taylor, Derbyshire, Mutch, Jiranek.[LNB]Goals: Ridgewell 56.Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire) [LNB]21.45: That about wraps up our coverage this evening, but tune in again tomorrow for the second semi-final where Paul Jewell takes charge of his first game as Ipswich boss. He is faced with the fairly simple task of facing Arsenal at Portman Road.He is possibly in for a long night![LNB]There will also be updates from Blackpool v Liverpool - Kenny Dalglish's first Premier League game in charge.[LNB]Thanks for following, that's all from me.[LNB]21.43: Carlton Cole - who looks like he is going to evaporate judging by the amount of steam leaving the top of his head, comments that Avram Grant done a brilliant job tonight, timing it perfectly for bringing him on.[LNB]But then he would say that wouldn't he?[LNB]21.40: Advantage West Ham but Birmingham are more than in this tie.[LNB]A 1-0 win for City at St Andrews would take them to Wembley courtesy of away goals - it's that close.[LNB]Full-time: West Ham 2-1 Birmingham[LNB]90+3min: Time running out but no real urgency from Birmingham, they perhaps no this tie is at the half-way mark.[LNB]90+1min: Three minutes added on.[LNB]90min: First chance for Zigic, he gets in front of Reid to header a Keith Fahey cross just wide.[LNB]Final sub from West ham as Radoslav Kovac replaces Noble.[LNB]87min: And here Zigic comes, Larsson is coming off. Strange choice - his crosses have been lethal this evening.[LNB]85min: What time is it? It's Nikola Zigic time. Alex McLeish just preparing his final sub.[LNB]83min: Changes for Birmingham. Jean Beausejour is on for Hleb - who at least improved in the second half.[LNB]78min: GOAL! WEST HAM 2-1 Birmingham[LNB]You have got to love football. Where has this come from?[LNB]A howler from Foster is your answer. Spector squares a low cross for Carlton Cole, whose first time effort is scuffed and takes a slight deflection off Murphy's leg before nutmegging a wrong-footed Foster. As for Grant I have seen more emotion from a wet blanket.[LNB]76min: You sense City are going to score in a minute. Larsson pings in a cross from the right and the sub Murphy steals in front of Tomkins to bullet a header inches wide of the post. Green would have had no chance.[LNB]Walk of shame: West Ham's Victor Obinna trudges off after receiving a straight red card[LNB]74min: Double sub for West Ham and boy do they need it.[LNB]Carlton Cole is on for Piquionne and Zavon Hines replaces Sears.[LNB]73min: Claims for a penalty from Barry Ferguson, he tumbles under pressure from Upson inside the box but it would have been quite soft had it been given.[LNB]Given West Ham's second-half I'm surprised it hasn't.[LNB]70min: What has happened to the Hammers this half. City have improved yes but the slick passing of the first half has completely gone to pot. It's like the sides have swapped shirts.[LNB]67min: It's becoming stretched, counter after counter. After Faubert shows a neat change of pace down the right his cross is cleared away by the visitors.[LNB]Hleb leads a counter feeding Gardner inside his own half before storming 60 yards down the pitch to receive the ball on the edge of the box. Just as he is about to pull the trigger after cutting inside, Reid times a sliding challenge to perfection and West Ham survive.[LNB]64min: Larsson hips in a free-kick 30 yards out and it's Ridgewell whose first to react, forcing a fine close range save from Robert Green. The centre-back had already been flagged for offside though.[LNB]62min: I can't believe how much this game has changed. Birmingham were nowhere in the first half yet the way things are going they could easily rack up a couple more goals. Half-time - what an amazing turnaround it can produce.[LNB]60min: West Ham have fallen apart and this is shocking from Obinna, from a thrown in he is under pressure from behind by Larsson and swings his foot back into the City players groin.[LNB]Phil Dowd shows a straight red and frankly there is just no argument against it. Stupid play.[LNB]59min: RED CARD (Victor Obinna, West Ham)[LNB] Back in it: Liam Ridgewell headers in Birmingham's equaliser[LNB]56min: GOAL! West Ham 1-1 BIRMINGHAM[LNB]There is no stopping this though, Larsson again ships in a corner but Liam Ridgewell finds the back of the net with a thumping header. That has been coming.[LNB]55min: ...Another Birmingham corner following Carr's deflected cross.[LNB]But this time it's dangerous, Jerome heads Larsson's corner goalwards but Sears clears it off the line before it bounces out for a corner.[LNB]52min: For a centre-back that is stunning, Johnson shows quick feet to side-step a challenge from the left before nutmegging Spector seconds later, his attempted cross after is also blocked out for a corner.[LNB]Which once again West Ham easily clear. Johnson though showed more tricks than Tony Hawk there.[LNB]51min: Much better from Birmingham, Stepehn Carr escapes down the right before seeing his cross deflected out for a corner, West Ham though clear their lines from the eventual set-piece.[LNB]50min: It's Gardner with the strike, it's low quick past the wall and well wide. Green remains redundant this evening.[LNB]49min: Here comes their best chance. Reid pushes Gardner to the ground central and 20 yards out to goal.[LNB]48min: No major improvements yet from the visitors but they are seeing plenty of the ball, bit quiet inside the ground which isn't full.[LNB]Second-half: Dann indeed cannot continue and David Murphy is on in his place.[LNB]Sears and Spector get us going again.[LNB]20.44: The only positive for Birmingham? That it's just the one goal conceded.[LNB]If they carry on like this, it can only get worse. They may be grateful to end tonight just the one goal behind.[LNB]20.41: And no bookings in that first-half - no candidates either.[LNB]West Ham have not had to work to win the ball off Birmingham, City just have not worked to win the ball.[LNB]20.37: I know one game doesn't make a season but if West Ham carry on like this it seems senseless sacking Grant.[LNB]They have been superb so far and made Birmingham look VERY ordinary.[LNB] Seeing the light: Avram Grant is clinging on to his West Ham job but would have been delighted with his team's first half showing against Birmingham at Upton Park[LNB]20.34: It comes to nothing and it gets worse, right on the half-time whistle Scott Dann has gone down injured and receives treatment while the rest of the 21 players trudge off.[LNB]Half-time: West Ham 1-0 Birmingham[LNB]45min: One minute of injury time and Birmingham have a corner.[LNB]43min: McLeish is furious standing on the touchline - there is just no spark out there from the Blues at all. Half-time is the worst thing that can happen for the Hammers.[LNB]Robert Green has not had a save to make and has only had to take routine catches.[LNB]40min: He is a frustrating player to watch. There has been moments this season when I think Obinna has been brilliant but with possession on the edge of the box out to the left, he tries a very ambitious shot with the outside of his boot that flies quite a way wide.[LNB]Too often he goes for the headlines that boy.[LNB]38min: OptaJoe strikes again![LNB]Birmingham haven't kept a clean sheet in a League Cup away game against a team from the same division since August 1991. Blues.[LNB] Ineffective: Birmingham's Alexander Hleb struggled to make any impact in the first half[LNB]36min: One man I feel sorry for is Jerome, he has had no service whatsoever and he is dropping deeper and deeper to get involved in this.[LNB]33min: Only one side in this. Faubert pings in a cross that Sears controls then volleys just wide. Looked easier to header. West Ham will be disappointed if they don't have a second before half-time.[LNB]30min: Same pattern. Birmingham struggle to break down the Hammers back line and after the hosts win the ball back they counter.[LNB]Sears quickly sprints up through the midfield and he lays the ball off to Spector, a poor cross from the midfielder comes back to him before he lays the ball to Obinna whose powerful strike is well tipped over by Foster.[LNB]27min: Birmingham again with long spells of possession but it's West Ham on the counter who look most likely to score.[LNB]Sears wins the ball and after playing a lofted through ball for Piquionne the striker goes down in the box under pressure from Roger Johnson. No penalty given and rightly so, no complaints from the former Portsmouth striker either.[LNB]24min: Birmingham have finally settled and they are trying to play some short passes across the midfield, no cutting edge to it though and no tempo. They must improve further.[LNB]21min: It is all West Ham. First Foster palms out Spector's 25 yard effort for a corner then moments later his alert again to tip over James Tomkins' header from close range. Foster is keeping City in the cup.[LNB] I'm the man: West Ham's Mark Noble (right) celebrates opening the scoring[LNB]20min: More left-back genius from Upson, he picks the other full-back Julien Faubert out with a great cross to the far post, but Liam Ridgewell is just as impressive in his defending, timing his jump perfect to header away for a corner.[LNB]18min: Missing: Birmingham's midfield - if sighted contact Alex McLeish because they are nowhere in this game.[LNB]For someone deemed good enough to play for Barcleona, Alexander Hleb just cannot get into this.[LNB]16min: No reaction whatsoever from Grant who looks away like his side have just missed a penalty. He should take up poker with reactions like that.[LNB]13min: GOAL! WEST HAM 1-0 Birmingham[LNB]This is a top finish. Mark Noble starts the move by sprinting into the box, he chips the ball across goal where Piquionne, Obinna and Jonathan Spector all fail to get a meaningful shot on goal, before the ball falls for Noble who crashes home a first-time strike through a sea of blue shirts giving the unsighted Foster no chance at his near post.[LNB]11min: Hammers the better side so far, not by much - still some nervy moments at the back for both teams.[LNB] Hands on approach: West Ham's Winston Reid (left) puts the pressure on Birmingham's Cameron Jerome[LNB]8min: Never in doubt about Upson. He storms down the left to latch onto a pass before sending a low cross that Piquionne on his second attempt, forces a good save at the near post from Ben Foster.[LNB]6min: Nervy moment for Birmingham, Scott Parker whips in a corner (which is not inside the 90 degree circle) before Freddie Sears fires just wide from outside the box.[LNB]4min: Sportsmail's Neil Moxley:[LNB]Let's see if Phil Dowd can live down to his rep and not award soft pens...[LNB]2min: Upson is indeed left-back, doesn't look comfortable either. Not even Fabio Capello in his mad World Cup years would have experimented with this.[LNB]Kick-off: Craig Gardner and Barry Ferguson get this semi-final underway.[LNB]19.44: Pre-match Alex McLeish has stated about his tactics 'Put it this way I won't play with four forwards'.[LNB]He would take a score draw tonight - yes away goals are in the equation.[LNB]19.41: Interesting selection from Grant. Not so much the names just where they are playing. It looks like Matthew Upson is playing left-back with Winston Reid playing centre-back alongside James Tomkins.[LNB]It's those kind of selections that can get you the sack - Upson surely as club captain has to lead from his favoured position in the centre.[LNB]I will keep you posted if he lines up any different.[LNB]19.38: Matthew Upson and Scott Parker both return to Avram Grant's starting XI as the West Ham boss looks to ease the pressure on his shoulders with a win against Birmingham in tonight's Carling Cup semi-final first leg.[LNB]Frederic Piquionne and Freddie Sears are the other two changes to the Hammers team that beat Barnsley on Saturday as Carlton Cole has to settle for a place on the bench.[LNB]Matt Derbyshire's double against Millwall is not enough for him to keep his place in the Birmingham team as Cameron Jerome returns to lead the line in a Blues side that contains eight changes from Saturday's win at the New Den.[LNB]Ben Foster replaces Maik Taylor in goal, Barry Ferguson comes into midfield and Sebastian Larsson starts on the right despite being given permission to speak to Newcastle about a transfer yesterday.[LNB]19.35: For Avram Grant in particular this could be a bitter sweet occasion. Even if he guides West Ham to the final in the next couple of weeks, he may not be in the job for a trip to Wembley.[LNB]It seems Avram has been one defeat away from the sacking all season, it would be a shame for him to go before he may get a chance to lead his team out in the final.[LNB]19.32: Back to the introduction though, with both sides struggling as they are then the Carling Cup run must deliver some sort of optimism in the dressing room.[LNB]If a trip to Wembley for a major final cannot give you a fillip, then what can?[LNB]19.29: Team news from Upton Park:[LNB]West Ham v BirminghamWest Ham: Green, Faubert, Tomkins, Reid, Upson, Spector, Sears, Noble, Parker, Obinna, Piquionne. Subs: Boffin, Cole, Boa Morte, Kovac, Nouble, Hines, Spence.Birmingham: Foster, Carr, Dann, Johnson, Ridgewell, Larsson, Gardner, Hleb, Ferguson, Fahey, Jerome. Subs: Taylor, Murphy, Derbyshire, Zigic, Beausejour, Mutch, Jiranek.Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)[LNB]19.26: Birmingham already have their name on this curiously three handled trophy winning it back in 1963. West Ham though have never won it and have been runners-up on two occasions in 1966 and 1981.[LNB]So these two sides are not quite getting nosebleeds reaching this stage of the competition.[LNB]19.23: Cup finals are nothing new for these sides of course. Birmingham in this very competition took Liverpool all the way to penalties when the City were a Championship side in 2001 before losing out.[LNB]While West Ham effectively had the FA Cup won in 2006 until Liverpool again equalised through THAT last-gasp Steven Gerrard strike - you may remember it.[LNB]Good news for both though is Liverpool went out very early on to Northampton and they will not be in the way once again when one of these sides reaches Wembley.[LNB]19.20: Just goes to show the importance of a cup run. Both West Ham and Birmingham are desperately struggling for points in the league, but in the Carling Cup they keep marching on.[LNB]Nobody can make it to Wembley tonight of course but we may just get a very big clue. Team news coming up.[LNB] Happy hammer: Frederic Piquionne (right) will hope to give West Ham an advantage ahead of the second-leg[LNB] Upson plans another mauling as West Ham skipper eyes Wembley wayVilla battle Birmingham for Adam as Houllier has £2.5m bid turned downBIRMINGHAM CITY FC
