Gardner the hero as Blues claim final berth

LIFELONG Birmingham fan Craig Gardner sent City through to their first major Wembley final for 55 years with an extra-time winner in last night’s 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 City 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.

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.

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.

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.

Then Green tipped over a Jerome header from Larsson’s corner and after 79 minutes Johnson brought Blues level. 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.

Then in the dying seconds Green fingertipped 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 to secure a final date with Arsenal next month.

BIRMINGHAM: Foster, Carr, Johnson, Jiranek, Ridgewell, Larsson (Beausejour 101), Ferguson, Bowyer, Gardner (Murphy 101), Derbyshire (Zigic 46), Jerome.

WEST HAM: Green, Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Bridge, Noble, Parker, Spector (McCarthy 106), Hines (Dyer 71), Cole, Boa Morte (O’Neil 83).

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).