LONDON - West Ham manager Avram Grant called for support from the club's owners as speculation mounted he is about to be sacked following his side's 2-1 win over Birmingham in the League Cup semifinal first leg.

Although West Ham remains on course for League Cup glory, Grant is said to be in severe danger of losing his job after a miserable six months in charge at Upton Park. Former Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce is the latest name to be linked with the position along with ex-Newcastle chief Chris Hughton.

Grant is adamant he has no intention of losing any sleep over his future, but he would love the club's co-owners, David Sullivan and David Gold, to publicly back him.

"I lived with rumors, I think, since day one," he said. "For us, it is much easier if the rumors around were like at other clubs.

"There is Wolves around us, Wigan, Fulham, West Bromwich, Birmingham. The rumors are only about West Ham.

"If everything was more quiet, I think it would help the players more.

"Why do you need to ask me about something that is not in my control? You can ask me why I picked this player and not the other one because this is my responsibility.

"You can ask me if I want to stay or not ... no, no. Don't ask me this!

"If I don't want to be here, I will go to the owner and say I don't want to be here. The other decision is not mine."

The former Chelsea and Portsmouth manager did his hopes of retaining the role a power of good as West Ham moved to within 90 minutes of a League Cup final against Arsenal or Ipswich.

West Ham is struggling in the Premier League but it will take a slender advantage to St Andrew's for the second leg on Jan 26 thanks to Ben Foster's blunders.

Mark Noble had given West Ham a deserved first-half lead when he beat Foster with a powerful drive the England goalkeeper should have kept out at his near-post.

Liam Ridgewell headed Birmingham level from a corner early in the second half, then Hammers striker Victor Obinna was sent off for a petulant kick on Sebastian Larsson.

West Ham responded well to that setback and Carlton Cole netted the winner when his tame shot trickled past Foster's weak attempted save.

Grant was delighted with the way his players responded to Obinna's red card and he said: "Even with this, you saw the spirit of the players, you saw the spirit of the players on Saturday against Barnsley, you saw the spirit of the players against Wolves, against Everton, against Blackburn.

"I think everybody needs to respect this spirit."

England striker Cole had been left on the bench once again but he made the most of his time on the pitch to underline his credentials for a more regular starting role.

"I didn't strike the ball properly and I think Ben helped me. The goal wasn't the goal I imagined it to be, but they all count," Cole said.

"I'm chuffed, the team's chuffed, and we've done the job. I've not scored a winner in ages and today's a great day to do it.

"It was important to go over there for the return leg with the win and to defend it."

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 01/13/2011 page22)