Carling Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg
Birmingham 3 West Ham 1 aet (4-3 on aggregate)
Lifelong Birmingham CIty fan Craig Gardner sent Blues through to their first major Wembley final for 55 years with an extra-time winner in the Carling Cup semi-final clash with West Ham at St Andrew's.
Gardner's goal - via Robert Green's blunder - capped a dramatic comeback by Alex McLeish's side who had fallen 3-1 behind on aggregate after Carlton Cole's superb first-half strike.
Lee Bowyer and Roger Johnson forced the game into extra-time before Gardner's moment of glory.
West Ham were the better side in the opening 45 minutes with Cole causing them plenty of problems.
But Blues were transformed after the interval with substitute Nikola Zigic causing plenty of problems after his half-time introduction and with Barry Ferguson pulling the strings in midfield.
The Hammers were forced to defend desperately for long spells but eventually cracked under the pressure.
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 Ben 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 35 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.
But Johnson was relieved when the ball struck his knee inside the Blues area and hit the outside of a post with Foster beaten.
McLeish made a half-time change with Derbyshire making way for Zigic.
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 Jiranek. But Jerome was unable to keep down his shot which flew wide.
Blues' pressure was now relentless and Green turned a Ridgewell header around the post from Larsson's corner.
