LONDON – Birmingham goalkeeper Ben Foster’s embarrassing blunder gave 10-man West Ham a 2-1 win in the League Cup semi-final first leg at Upton Park on Tuesday.
Avram Grant’s Hammers were on the rack after Liam Ridgewell’s second half goal cancelled out Mark Noble’s first half opener.
The Hammers then had Nigerian striker Victor Obinna sent off for a petulant kick at Sebastian Larsson. But Foster made a hash of saving Carlton Cole’s weak shot in the closing stages and West Ham have a slender advantage to take to St Andrew’s for the second leg on January 26. “The spirit was great, we have a small squad and have played a lot of games in a short space of time but the players didn’t give up,” Grant said.
“The first half we had seven or eight chances but couldn’t score. The second-half was different – it was difficult with 10 players but our substitutions changed the game.”
Foster might have been disappointed to be beaten at his near-post but the former Manchester United goalkeeper redeemed himself by tipping Parker’s shot over the bar and then keeping out James Tomkins’ close-range header.
Meanwhile, Grant called for support from the club’s owners as speculation mounted that he is about to be sacked.
Although West Ham remain on course for League Cup glory, Grant is said to be in severe danger of losing his job after a miserable six months in charge at Upton Park. Former Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce is the latest name to be linked with the position along with ex-Newcastle chief Chris Hughton.
Grant is adamant he has no intention of losing any sleep over his future, but he would love the club’s co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold to publicly back him.
“I lived with rumours, I think, since day one,” he said. “For us, it is much easier if the rumours around were like at other clubs.
“There is Wolves around us, Wigan, Fulham, West Bromwich, Birmingham. The rumours are only about West Ham. “If everything was more quiet, I think it would help the players more. “Why do you need to ask me about something that is not in my control?”
