Football: Cole opens account to debit City

Birmingham City 2 West Ham United 3

JOE COLE'S first goal for West Ham, imperiously swept in from close range with only five seconds of the regulation 90 minutes remaining, completed a stirring fightback at the expense of an injury-ravaged Birmingham last night and earned his side a place in the Worthington Cup quarter- finals.

Cole, initially rested by Harry Redknapp, was summoned from the bench after what the West Ham manager described as an "horrific injury" to Gary Charles on his debut for the London club. Charles, the former Aston Villa player, was carried off after a scything challenge by Martin Grainger which mysteriously went unpunished.

The 18-year-old Cole, who played in the FA Youth Cup last week, was not the only substitute to perform a key role in the transformation of the tie. Just three minutes earlier, with Birmingham clinging to a 2-1 lead and the prospect of a derby against Aston Villa in the next round, Paul Kitson had equalised from similar distance.

Defeat was desperately hard on the First Division's seventh-placed team. With 11 first-choice players either injured or cup-tied - including seven attacking players - Trevor Francis was forced to field a makeshift attack which comprised an on-loan winger, Allan Johnston, and a burly defender, Darren Purse. Yet they led twice, splendid goals by Graham Hyde and Grainger coming either side of a brutally struck equaliser by Steve Lomas.

The turning point for West Ham was the introduction of no fewer than three fresh attackers in Trevor Sinclair, Cole and Kitson. The latter replaced the lethargic Paulo Wanchope, who made plain his views on the substitution by ignoring the entreaties of West Ham's bench and heading straight for the dressing-room.

Birmingham at first made light of their personnel problems with a marvellous competitive spirit, and seized an eighth-minute advantage. The odd couple were heavily involved, Purse's flick setting up Johnston for two shots which cannoned into defenders. From the second rebound, Hyde rifled his second goal of the season.

Paolo Di Canio missed a good chance in the 14th minute, his volley bouncing over the bar, but West Ham drew level midway through the first half. Lomas' 25-yard drive might have troubled Kevin Poole for power anyway, but a deflection off David Holdsworth ensured he was beaten for placement.

After surviving a bad miss by Wanchope, who looked yards offside, Birmingham edged in front again 90 seconds before half-time. Purse again featured in the build up, winning a free-kick from Neil Ruddock which Grainger curled high beyond Hislop's grasp from 28 yards.

West Ham abandoned their starting formation, and their wing-backs, after half-time. Sinclair provided penetration along the right and then, with Cole and Kitson complementing Di Canio, Birmingham faced a claret-and- blue swarm. They resisted bravely, and when Poole made a stunning one- handed save from Frank Lampard in the 85th minute, Francis began to believe they might just squeeze through.

Di Canio had other ideas. First, he turned Lomas' cross back into the six-yard area for Kitson to make it 2-2. Then he found space on the right and Cole converted his pass to snatch victory in extra-time.

Francis complained afterwards that the referee, Graham Poll, had failed to spot a foul on Purse seconds before West Ham's winning goal. Meanwhile, Redknapp's delight at having "pinched a result" was tempered by the news that Charles had been detained in hospital. But this was Cole's night - and the first, no doubt, of many goals in a career which could well lead him into the England reckoning for Euro 2000.

Birmingham City (3-5-2): Poole; Rowett, Holdsworth, Johnson; Bass, Holland, Hyde (Hughes, h-t), O'Connor, Grainger; Purse, Johnston. Substitutes not used: Bennett (gk), Charlton, Newton, Gill.

West Ham United (3-5-2): Hislop; Ferdinand, Ruddock, Margas (Sinclair, h-t); Charles (Cole, 53), Lomas, Lampard, Foe, Keller; Di Canio, Wanchope (Kitson, 59).

Substitutes not used: Forrest (gk), Minto.

Referee: G Poll (Tring).