BBC Sport - Football - Birmingham 2-2 West Ham (original) (raw)

Liam Ridgewell celebrates scoring Birmingham's equaliser

Ridgewell struck the equaliser to end West Ham's hopes of a rare away win

Birmingham scored twice in nine second-half minutes to rescue a point against rock-bottom West Ham at St Andrew's.

Blues keeper Ben Foster brilliantly denied Carlton Cole but low finishes by Frederic Piquionne and Valon Behrami gave the visitors the upper hand.

The home side rallied and Cameron Jerome struck after a knockdown from Nikola Zigic before Liam Ridgewell pounced on a rebound to equalise.

Jerome then saw a shot deflected against the woodwork by Danny Gabbidon.

It was a result that scarcely seemed possible when the Hammers scored twice after the break to put themselves on course for a first away success in the Premier League since the opening day of the 2009-10 campaign.

They played some fine, flowing football but Birmingham have proved themselves tough to beat at home and raised their game considerably, with a series of cross-field balls aimed towards giant striker Zigic causing the east Londoners considerable problems.

There was little hint of the excitement of the second half during a largely disappointing opening 45 minutes.

The on-pitch water sprinklers provided a moment of comedy after three minutes, appearing from beneath the playing surface in one half of the pitch and dousing several players and 25-year-old referee Michael Oliver.

Play stopped for more than a minute while the problem was rectified and it was the most noteworthy incident until Foster's athletic save after 18 minutes.

McLeish praises Birmingham character

Victor Obinna's right-wing cross was flicked on by Behrami and Cole showed excellent reflexes to guide the ball towards the bottom corner, but Foster demonstrated great agility to deflect the ball against the post.

The ball ran agonisingly across the face of goal from a West Ham point of view before it was put out for a corner.

Cole, one of two changes to Hammers boss Avram Grant's starting line-up from the side that lost at Arsenal, wrong-footed Foster with a shot on the turn before the break but his connection was poor and the keeper was able to readjust his position.

Grant claimed during the week that he had been encouraged by the quality of his team's performances despite winning only once in the league this season going into Saturday's fixture.

He must have been pleased by their dominance during the first half, but concerned by their failure to turn possession into goals.

Grant disappointed to let two-goal lead slip

That changed shortly after the restart when Luis Boa Morte's beautifully weighted through ball carved open the Blues backline and presented Piquionne with a chance that he gratefully accepted.

And when Behrami finished an incisive move with his first-time finish from 14 yards the match look out of reach for a home team who had showed precious little goal threat.

The match would definitely have been beyond Birmingham if Obinna's powerful strike had not rebounded off the crossbar shortly after the Hammers' second goal.

The home side had scored just four in their previous seven top-flight fixtures and looked short of confidence in attack.

Roger Johnson had headed wide from a corner and Sebastian Larsson had failed to connect with a super Barry Ferguson cross early in the second half, but they suddenly found another gear after the hour mark.

The recalled Jerome struck from close range after Zigic's knockdown and Ridgewell pounced after Rob Green could only parry a free-kick from Larsson.

The complexion of the match had changed completely and Zigic shot wide before Gabbidon deflected a goal-bound strike from Jerome against the crossbar with his thigh.

The Hammers did have a late penalty appeal after Jean Beausejour appeared to tug the shirt of Lars Joacobsen but the decision was not given in their favour.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish:
"We are disappointed to drop points at home and I would have taken a draw when we were 2-0 down because it was crucial to take something.

"We will take a piece of the pie, especially when it looked as though we were down and out.

"But with a few minutes to go I thought we could have won the game."

West Ham manager Avram Grant on the late penalty appeal:
"We came here and played well but it was an undoubted penalty.

"I saw it on the pitch and I was 50 yards away, the referee was five yards away but he did not give it.

"You should not make a mistake from five yards. Like my friend Harry [Redknapp] would say, it is a farce and it is very frustrating."

Live text and stats

Saturday, 6 November 2010

Premier League

Home Team Score Away Team Time
Birmingham 2-2 West Ham FT
(HT 0-0)
Jerome 64 Ridgewell 73 Behrami 58 Piquionne 48

BIRMINGHAM

WEST HAM

Possession

Attempts on target

Attempts off target

Corners

Fouls

Live text and data provided by The Press Association.