Upson promoted from bench as Tomkins injured in Hammers warm-up

Winston Reid replaced the injured Danny Gabbidon in defence for West Ham as they looked to climb out of the relegation zone with a vital win over fellow strugglers Birmingham at Upton Park.

Matthew Upson was on the bench after recovering from tendonitis, but an injury in the warm-up to centre-back James Tomkins meant that Upson was recalled to the West Ham starting line-up.

Upson missed the midweek win over Blackpool with tendonitis.

Scott Parker assumed his place in midfield the day after he earned a recall to the England squad.

Cameron Jerome and Barry Ferguson both overcame ankle injuries to make a Birmingham team that was unchanged from Wednesday’s 2-2 draw against Manchester City.

West Ham: Green, Jacobsen, Reid, Tomkins, Bridge, O’Neil, Parker, Noble, Obinna, Piquionne, Keane.

Subs: Boffin, Cole, Kovac, Upson, Sears, Ba, da Costa.

Birmingham: Foster, Carr, Johnson, Jiranek, Ridgewell, Bentley, Ferguson, Gardner, Bowyer, Jerome, Zigic.

Subs: Doyle, Murphy, Larsson, Phillips, Fahey, Beausejour, Davies.

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)