Carling Cup semi-final 2nd Leg:
Birmingham City 3 West Ham 1 - After Extra Time, 4-3 agg

How fitting that Craig Gardner, the Brummie with Blues blood flowing through his veins, sent Alex McLeish's side through to the Carling Cup final on a breathtaking St Andrew's night.

Gardner struck the winning goal just after an enthralling tie moved in extra-time to set up a showdown with Arsenal on February 27.

It's been 55 years and plenty of heartache since Blues rolled up at the famous venue for a major final.

The Leyland DAF and Auto Windscreens? Sure - but this is one that really matters.

And although the team Blues and their fans have developed considerable enmity towards in recent years will be firm favourites, would you really write off Eck's men?

They never know when they are beaten. Such character and resolve in climbing off the canvas with the count at eight to then counter punch with devastating effect has happened so often in the last couple of years it's as if it's a normal part of their make up.

But this, in a semi-final, with the pressure on and all their hopes and dreams seemingly evaporated by half-time, was something else.

Gardner had struck the post twice during a barnstorminng second-half by Blues, when the sheer force of their will and powerplay turned the outcome of the semi-final completely around.

And he might even have won it in stoppage-time at the end of the 90 minutes, when his second attempt thudded against the upright.

But the momentum was with Blues and pretty irresistible.

Four minutes into the extra period he lashed a shot across Robert Green that provided Blues with the required advantage that they were never going to relinquish.

Yet it had appeared all so bleak when Carlton Cole had put West Ham ahead in the first-half.

The introduction of Nikola Zigic at half-time provided them with a totemic presence that put West Ham off their stride and a more

direct and determined approach - pretty much all or nothing - made for a sensational comeback, a sensational night.

Blues task was made all the more harder as West Ham seized an iron grip on the semi-final, which was nothing more than their first-half performance deserved.