West Ham vs Birmingham 1-1 Goal Highlights 09-02-2008

Premier League

Goals: Ljungberg 7' - McFadden 16' (pen)

Birmingham dragged themselves out of the Premier League relegation zone at Reading's expense after securing a 1-1 draw with a battling display at West Ham.

Alan Curbishley's side may have played the more cultured football but they were more than matched in terms of application by Alex McLeish's men, who cancelled out Freddie Ljungberg's opener with a penalty from James McFadden.

A bright start by the Hammers was rewarded with a goal in only the seventh minute.

George McCartney's long throw was flicked on by Dean Ashton and Ljungberg arrived at the back post to stab the ball home.

It was the Swedish midfielder's first goal since his summer move from Arsenal, his first in any competition for a year and his first in the Premier League since May 2006.

Carlton Cole flashed a volley just wide as the Hammers continued to impress but Birmingham were soon back on level terms, courtesy of a rush of blood to the head of Australia defender Lucas Neill, who had no excuse for bringing down McFadden.

The Scotland playmaker dusted himself off and found the left corner to beat Robert Green from the spot.

Matthew Etherington broke clear on the left to set up Lee Bowyer with a chance to restore the Hammers' lead, but the midfielder's shot from 12 yards out failed to test Maik Taylor.

Birmingham's lone striker, Mikael Forssell, then headed a good chance straight at Green following a good delivery from McFadden.

But it was the home side who finished the first-half strongest with Taylor doing well to save from Etherington and then Mullins.

West Ham strikers Ashton and Cole were anxious to impress the watching England manager Fabio Capello but neither forward could make an impact as the match drifted towards stalemate in the second half.

Ashton blasted over from 20 yards and then fired another shot wide having created good space for himself on the edge of the area.

At the other end, Forssell produced a neat turn and went close with a shot across Green that carried just beyond the far post.

That was it in terms of second half action before Bowyer marked his return to the starting line-up with a lunge at Damien Johnson that earned the midfielder a straight red card.