West Ham climbed back into second place in the Championship despite David Murphy's late header earning Birmingham a point.

Sam Allardyce's side took the lead when Carlton Cole latched on to a flick-on from Frederic Piquionne to sprint clear and drive into the corner.

But Birmingham dominated after the break and went close through Nikola Zigic and Marlon King.

The equaliser came when Pablo Ibanez headed across for Murphy to convert.

Both teams fashioned early chances as Chris Burke sent a header off target before Hammers skipper Kevin Nolan narrowly failed to connect with Julien Faubert's low cross.

West Ham went in front after four minutes when Cole took advantage of hesitation from Ibanez before racing clear and firing past Boaz Myhill.

Faubert somehow missed a golden headed opportunity to put the visitors 2-0 ahead midway through the half before Ibanez cleared Piquionne's nodded effort off the line from the resulting corner.

At the other end, Murphy and Keith Fahey forced Robert Green into saves.

There was a frantic start to the second half as Burke curled an effort inches wide before Steven Caldwell and Joey O'Brien made last-ditch tackles at either end.

Birmingham substitute Zigic looped a header on to the roof of the net from Murphy's cross and missed a great chance from close range after James Tomkins's sliced clearance.

The leveller finally arrived nine minutes from time as Murphy converted Burke's corner to delight the home crowd, with Marlon King missing a late chance to snatch all three points.

Birmingham manager Chris Hughton: "Over the 90 minutes it was a fair result. I was pleased we finished so strongly.

"It is very tough when you concede so early in a game particularly against a team as good as West Ham.

"We were indebted to Myhill's save just before half-time which kept us in the game.

"I still felt, even in the first half, when we were not at our best that we could still create opportunities and put them under the pressure."

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce: "It was all about us missing too many chances in the first half. That was our problem.

"Unfortunately we didn't capitalise upon what was a great first half performance.

"Myhill's marvellous save just before the half was a vital turning point and it came back to haunt us.

"Birmingham is a difficult place to come to at any time but I am disappointed we didn't win."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (5)

Birmingham City

  • 01 Myhill
  • 03 Murphy
  • 04 Caldwell
  • 05 Pablo
  • 23 Spector
  • 07 Burke
  • 08 N'daw
  • 11 Beausejour (Redmond - 70' )
  • 18 Fahey
  • 09 King
  • 39 Wood (Zigic - 56' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Doyle
  • 06 Ridgewell
  • 12 Mutch
  • 22 Redmond
  • 19 Zigic

West Ham United

  • 01 Green
  • 03 McCartney Booked
  • 05 Tomkins
  • 17 O'Brien
  • 48 Potts
  • 04 Nolan Booked
  • 16 Noble Booked
  • 18 Faubert Booked (Sears - 84' )
  • 21 Diop
  • 09 Cole (Carew - 74' )
  • 30 Piquionne (Lansbury - 58' )

Substitutes

  • 31 Boffin
  • 22 Lansbury
  • 32 O'Neil
  • 11 Carew
  • 19 Sears
Ref: Deadman
Att: 20,214

Match Stats

Shots

16 8

On target

10 5

Corners

10 5

Fouls

11 13

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:30

The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +2:04

Chris Burke takes a shot. Save made by Robert Green.

90:00 +1:42

The assistant referee flags for offside against Joey O'Brien. Boaz Myhill restarts play with the free kick.

88:53

Unfair challenge on Papa Bouba Diop by Nathan Redmond results in a free kick. Robert Green restarts play with the free kick.

88:33

The ball is sent over by Daniel Potts, save made by Boaz Myhill.

86:56

Centre by Daniel Potts.

86:13

Marlon King produces a cross, save made by Robert Green.

84:02

Shot by Papa Bouba Diop from a long way out goes over the target.

83:06 Substitution

Substitution Freddie Sears on for Julien Faubert.

82:32

Unfair challenge on Robert Green by Guirane N'Daw results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Robert Green.

82:04

Corner taken by Chris Burke from the left by-line, save made by Robert Green.

81:48

Chris Burke crosses the ball, Marlon King takes a shot. Robert Green makes a save.

80:46

Steven Caldwell provided the assist for the goal.

80:46 Goal scored

Goal - David Murphy - Birmingham 1 - 1 West Ham David Murphy finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close in. Birmingham 1-1 West Ham.

80:20

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Chris Burke,

80:07

The ball is sent over by Nikola Zigic, clearance made by Julien Faubert.

79:38

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Chris Burke.

79:14

John Carew takes a shot. Boaz Myhill makes a save.

77:48 Booking

Booking Mark Noble receives a caution for dissent.

77:31 Booking

Booking The referee cautions George McCartney for time wasting.

77:02

Foul by Keith Fahey on Kevin Nolan, free kick awarded. George McCartney takes the free kick.

75:27

John Carew is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Steven Caldwell.

73:32

Unfair challenge on Chris Burke by Kevin Nolan results in a free kick. The free kick is swung in left-footed by David Murphy.

73:03 Substitution

Substitution (West Ham) makes a substitution, with John Carew coming on for Carlton Cole.

72:35

Shot by Guirane N'Daw. Robert Green makes a save.

70:44

Julien Faubert fouled by Nathan Redmond, the ref awards a free kick. Robert Green restarts play with the free kick.

69:08

Boaz Myhill takes the free kick.

69:08 Substitution

Substitution (Birmingham) makes a substitution, with Nathan Redmond coming on for Jean Beausejour.

69:08 Booking

Booking Julien Faubert shown a yellow card.

69:04

Julien Faubert gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Murphy.

67:41

Jonathan Spector concedes a free kick for a foul on Henri Lansbury. Mark Noble delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing.

67:03

Joey O'Brien fouled by Jean Beausejour, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Robert Green.

66:13

The ball is delivered by David Murphy, Nikola Zigic has a header from inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.

63:49

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Mark Noble from the right by-line, Carlton Cole has a header from close in and clears the crossbar.

63:37

Henri Lansbury takes a shot. Save by Boaz Myhill.

61:56

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Robert Green by Nikola Zigic. Robert Green takes the free kick.

61:20

Outswinging corner taken by Chris Burke, Steven Caldwell takes a shot. Carlton Cole manages to make a clearance.

60:30

Boaz Myhill takes the direct free kick.

60:30 Booking

Booking Kevin Nolan shown a yellow card.

60:02

Kevin Nolan concedes a free kick for a foul on Nikola Zigic.

59:13

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Papa Bouba Diop by Nikola Zigic. James Tomkins takes the direct free kick.

57:38 Substitution

Substitution Henri Lansbury comes on in place of Frederic Piquionne.

57:00

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Chris Burke, Pablo Ibanez produces a header from inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.

56:24

Inswinging corner taken by Chris Burke from the left by-line, Marlon King takes a shot. Blocked by Kevin Nolan.

55:46

The ball is swung over by Daniel Potts.

55:08 Substitution

Substitution Nikola Zigic joins the action as a substitute, replacing Chris Wood.

54:58

Shot from long distance by Keith Fahey misses to the left of the goal.

54:11

Keith Fahey takes a shot from 20 yards. Blocked by Papa Bouba Diop.

53:42

Steven Caldwell challenges Carlton Cole unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Carlton Cole.

52:29

Chris Burke has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide right of the target.

47:02

Daniel Potts produces a cross, save made by Boaz Myhill.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:11

The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +0:23

Inswinging corner taken by Mark Noble, clearance by Guirane N'Daw. Corner taken right-footed by Mark Noble from the left by-line, James Tomkins has a header from inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.

45:00 +0:09

Carlton Cole takes a shot. Save by Boaz Myhill.

44:18

Inswinging corner taken by Chris Burke, save by Robert Green.

43:35

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Murphy by Julien Faubert. Boaz Myhill restarts play with the free kick.

41:05

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Pablo Ibanez by Julien Faubert. Pablo Ibanez takes the free kick.

40:03

Corner from the left by-line taken by Chris Burke, Papa Bouba Diop manages to make a clearance.

39:19

Chris Burke takes a short corner.

39:12

Centre by Chris Burke, save by Robert Green.

38:04

Daniel Potts delivers the ball.

36:55

The official flags Marlon King offside. Indirect free kick taken by Robert Green.

35:08

Chris Burke produces a cross, clearance by James Tomkins.

33:49

Carlton Cole concedes a free kick for a foul on Steven Caldwell. Boaz Myhill takes the free kick.

31:49

Keith Fahey has a drilled shot. Save made by Robert Green.

30:21

Carlton Cole gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Murphy. Chris Burke crosses the ball in from the free kick, Kevin Nolan makes a clearance.

28:51

Shot from outside the box by Jean Beausejour misses to the left of the target.

28:38

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Chris Burke played to the near post, clearance by James Tomkins.

27:33

James Tomkins gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jean Beausejour. David Murphy fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick, save by Robert Green.

26:49

Kevin Nolan gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jonathan Spector. Boaz Myhill takes the direct free kick.

25:49

Frederic Piquionne delivers the ball, Julien Faubert takes a shot. David Murphy gets a block in. Corner taken right-footed by Mark Noble from the left by-line, clearance made by Steven Caldwell.

24:39

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Mark Noble, save by Boaz Myhill.

22:53

Free kick awarded for a foul by Chris Wood on Papa Bouba Diop. Robert Green takes the direct free kick.

22:23

Free kick awarded for a foul by Frederic Piquionne on Pablo Ibanez. Direct free kick taken by Boaz Myhill.

21:28

Centre by Jonathan Spector, save made by Robert Green.

17:41

The ball is sent over by Daniel Potts.

16:10

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jean Beausejour on Mark Noble. Robert Green restarts play with the free kick.

15:15

The ball is delivered by Daniel Potts.

14:58

Chris Burke takes a shot from 20 yards. Blocked by James Tomkins.

14:39

The ball is sent over by Julien Faubert, blocked by Pablo Ibanez.

13:49

The referee blows for offside against Carlton Cole. Free kick taken by Boaz Myhill.

11:38

Unfair challenge on Jean Beausejour by Mark Noble results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Guirane N'Daw.

10:36

Frederic Piquionne concedes a free kick for a foul on Jonathan Spector. Direct free kick taken by Keith Fahey.

5:06

Kevin Nolan gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jonathan Spector. Direct free kick taken by Boaz Myhill.

4:56

The ball is delivered by Mark Noble, Pablo Ibanez makes a clearance.

3:18

Assist by Frederic Piquionne.

3:18 Goal scored

Goal - Carlton Cole - Birmingham 0 - 1 West Ham Carlton Cole gets on the score sheet with a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Birmingham 0-1 West Ham.

2:18

Centre by Julien Faubert.

1:23

Header by Chris Burke from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.

0:00

The match begins.

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