West Ham 2-1 Birmingham City: Two Premier League strugglers meet in the Carling Cup semi-finals, with the first leg at Upton Park, and the Hammers take the lead through a powerful strike from midfielder Mark Noble
The ferocity of Noble's drive catches out Birmingham goalkeeper Ben Foster at his near post as Barry Ferguson and Scott Dann look on
Even a victory for West Ham may not be enough to save their beleaguered manager Avram Grant, with reports suggesting he could be sacked regardless of the result
Birmingham are a different side at the start of the second half and the scores are levelled when Liam Ridgewell rises to head home a corner past Rob Green
Things go from bad to worse for West Ham as Victor Obinna is given his marching orders for a rash kick on Birmingham winger Sebastien Larsson
But despair turns to jubiliation for the Hammers as Carlton Cole meets Jonathan Spector's low cross and his scuffed shot rolls through Ben Foster's grasp
Cole is mobbed by his team-mates as West Ham savour what could be a crucial moment in their season
The final whistle brings relief for Avram Grant, but will he still be in charge of West Ham for the second leg of the semi-final?
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