Foster's howler gifts 10-man West Ham Wembley hope
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Ben blunders! Foster's howler gifts 10-man West Ham Wembley hope in Carling Cup
BRUM NOTE ... keeper Ben Foster lets Carlton Cole's tame shot squeeze through his legs
Nutmegged: Ben Foster lets Carlton Cole's shot through his legs
A Ben Foster howler gifted West Ham a 2-1 victory after they had been reduced to 10 men in a bizarre Carling Cup semi-final first leg at Upton Park on Tuesday night.
The Birmingham goalkeeper let Carlton Cole's dribbling shot roll through his legs and into the net 12 minutes from time when the Hammers were rocking.
Striker Victor Obinna had been sent off for a senseless kick at Sebastian Larsson as the pair waited for a Matthew Upson throw-in.
Mark Noble put West Ham ahead in the 13th minute but Liam Ridgewell equalised for Alex McLeish's side after 56 minutes.
The Birmingham manager said: 'It was definitely a missed opportunity. The goal was a little bit of a monstrosity, when you think about it.
'He (Foster) is a big lad. Goalies are always vulnerable. When they make a mistake it normally results in a goal.'
Seeing red: Victor Obinna (No33) is sent off by referee Phil Dowd after lashing out at Seb Larsson
Substitute Cole, 27, said: 'I didn't even strike the ball properly and I think Ben Foster helped me by carrying it in a bit. 'But every goal counts and we have all worked very hard today. I've not scored a winner in ages and today's a great day to do it.'
The win is a boost for under-fire Grant (right), who is now one game away from a third domestic cup final in less than three years, having taken Chelsea to the 2008 Carling Cup final against Tottenham and Portsmouth to the FA Cup final against Chelsea last May.
He said: 'We (have) had to fight with other things that aren't on the pitch but I will take it as a challenge.
'You must give respect to the players. Don't worry about me, I will be fine. We have an advantage but nothing's finished yet.'