Birmingham staged a remarkable fightback against West Ham to record a 3-1 win after extra-time and reach the Carling Cup final.
Gardner sends Birmingham to Wembley
Birmingham staged a remarkable fightback against West Ham to record a 3-1 win after extra-time and book their place in the Carling Cup final.
The Hammers led 2-1 heading into the second leg of the last four encounter, but were undone on Wednesday as Lee Bowyer, Roger Johnson and Craig Gardner cancelled out Carlton Cole's spectacular opener.
Birmingham started brightly in front of a lively home support but soon lost their way and allowed the Hammers to take control of proceedings.
After knocking on the door for some time, Avram Grant's side forced the breakthrough on 31 minutes as Cole collected the ball 25 yards from goal and curled brilliantly past a sprawling Ben Foster.
The Blues keeper may have been responsible for allowing a tame shot from the Hammers striker to slip through his grasp at Upton Park, but there was nothing he could do but stand and admire on this occasion.
Unsurprisingly, given what was at stake, Birmingham were much improved after the interval and threw everything they had at West Ham.
Their pressure paid off shortly before the hour mark as the visitors failed to deal with a corner and Bowyer crashed the loose ball past a collection of bodies on the line.
Birmingham were now relentless in their attack on the Hammers goal and a flurry of corners allowed Johnson to stoop and nod home a second 11 minutes from time.
That effort took the tie into extra-time, where Gardner, who had already hit the woodwork twice, lashed past Robert Green four minutes in to wrap up a 4-3 aggregate success for the hosts and secure a Wembley date with Arsenal on 27th February.
West Ham started well and almost caught out the home side on the counter attack when a fine pass from Mark Noble allowed Zavon Hines a run at goal.
But Foster was well placed to block the shot from a wide angle.
Cole then should have done better when he fired over from inside the area after latching onto a ball over the top from former Blues defender Matthew Upson.
Liam Ridgewell made a crucial interception to cut out a cross from the by-line by Cole as the Hammers started to enjoy a spell of pressure.
Then after 31 minutes a superb strike from Cole put the Hammers ahead on the night and 3-1 on aggregate.
The England striker was allowed time 25 yards out to line up his shot but there was no doubting the quality of the strike as it flew past Foster into the net.
Birmingham tried to retaliate and Green punched out an effort from Matt Derbyshire and clung onto a Sebastian Larsson free-kick.
Hines then saw an audacious over-head kick slip off the outside of the post, with Foster well beaten.
McLeish made a half-time change with Derbyshire making way for Nikola Zigic.
Unfortunate
Gardner was unfortunate after 53 minutes when his 25-yard drive hit the inside of a post and flew across the goal without crossing the line.
Birmingham tried to build up some momentum and a deep cross from Ridgewell was headed across goal by Martin Jiranek. But Jerome was unable to keep down his shot which flew wide.
City's pressure was now relentless and Green turned a Ridgewell header around the post from Larsson's corner.
Then after 59 minutes Bowyer reduced the arrears.
Another Larsson corner was not dealt with by the Hammers and the ball broke to Bowyer who hammered the ball past Green from 12 yards out.
Blues were almost caught on the counter-attack when a low cross from Cole just evaded the run into the box of Hines.
West Ham were hanging on desperately to their lead and Green did well to turn aside a shot from Ferguson which flew through a ruck of players.
The home side were in complete control and Green was booked for time-wasting.
Green tipped over a Jerome header from Larsson's corner and after 79 minutes Johnson brought Blues level.
Smothered
Bowyer supplied the cross and Johnson rose above the Hammers defence to head past Green.
Jerome could have won the game for City in normal time but Green smothered his low shot inside the box.
Barry Ferguson and Kieron Dyer were both yellow carded in the final minute after squaring up to each other.
Then in the dying seconds Green finger-tipped Gardner's low drive onto a post.
But Gardner was not to be denied after 94 minutes although Green should have done better.
His swerving shot was well struck but Green looked to have it covered only for the ball to slip away from his grasp into the corner of the net.
Scott Parker showed good control in the box but shot over and Dyer shot over when well placed inside the box.
James Tomkins and Cole were booked for dissent early in the second period of extra-time.
Foster held onto a scissor kick from Cole and Green denied Davied Murphy when put clear by Ferguson.
| Birmingham City |
Team Statistics |
West Ham United |
| 3 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 13 |
Shots on Target |
6 |
| 5 |
Shots off Target |
9 |
| 7 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 11 |
Corners |
9 |
| 8 |
Fouls |
14 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
4 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 70.9 |
Passing Success |
64.5 |
| 29 |
Tackles |
27 |
| 69 |
Tackles Success |
70.4 |
| 58.2 |
Possession |
41.8 |
| 50.1 |
Territorial Advantage |
49.9 |
|
