Coventry City 1-2 West Ham United
West Ham United have become the first team through to the Carling Cup quarter-finals after coming from behind to win at Coventry City.
Carlton Cole's winner deep into added time earned the visitors a dramatic victory after a deflected shot by Luis Boa Morte had earlier cancelled out Jay Tabb's headed opener in a thrilling finale at the Ricoh Arena. Cole found himself through on goal with time running out and kept his nerve to score in front of the 4,500-strong travelling contingent. Defeat was hard on the home side, who gave their all in a competitive encounter.
Alan Curbishley made four changes from the side that drew 0-0 at Portsmouth on Saturday evening. Richard Wright replaced Robert Green in goal, Anton Ferdinand came in for Danny Gabbidon, Lee Boywer deputised for the cup-tied Nolberto Solano and Matthew Etherington stepped in for Craig Bellamy, with Boa Morte moving up front alongside Cole. Solano, like Henri Camara, was cup-tied.
Coventry were the first to have a real opportunity. Ferdinand fouled Tabb nine minutes in and, from the resulting free-kick, Arjan De Zeeuw headed wide of Wright's goal. Three minutes later, the visitors had a set-piece chance of their own after both Bowyer and Boa Morte were upended. Mark Noble took the responsibility but sent his shot high over Andy Marshall's goal.
That led to a bright passage of play with Hayden Mullins involved in some good build-up before getting on the end of an Etherington cross, but he could not direct his header on target. Iain Dowie's hosts were a constant threat, not least Michael Mifsud, with McCartney going into the book for a foul as the Malta striker broke free before Upson also saw the forward trick his way past him.
Boa Morte was not enjoying as much room at the other end although he did break free of defender Ben Turner just after the half-hour. The Portuguese striker went down but the appeals for a foul were waved away. Lucas Neill was booked for dissent and the rest of the half slipped away in a series of half-chances and sporadic bursts forward.
Both managers made changes at half-time with Jonathan Spector on in a central midfield role for Mullins who had a knee knock and Robbie Simpson replacing Julian Gray for the home side. Tabb soon had the first clear sight on goal of the half but was hurried off the ball before Etherington found Bowyer from a corner at the other end, but the resulting shot went high and wide. The visitors were getting closer though as Cole rose to head goalwards but he failed to trouble Marshall.
On the hour, Mifsud had the ball in the net but it was given for offside. Curbishley decided to make his second change of the night with John Pantsil on for Mark Noble, who had a groin problem. Despite the dropping temperature on a chilly but clear night, the intensity was increasing on the pitch as both sides sensed victory. Mifsud remained a menace, sending a shot over although it never troubled Wright.
After a tense first 68 minutes, the game burst into life when Tabb stole in behind the visiting defence to break the deadlock. The goal stunned the visitors but they were to be behind for only three minutes before Boa Morte pounced on a clearance and scored with a shot that was deflected by Marcus Hall past Marshall. Relieved to be back in it, West Ham United searched for a winner with McCartney and the tireless Etherington both seeing shots flash just wide as the match entered its closing stages.
As Coventry also applied pressure of their own, Ferdinand limped off clutching his hamstring to be replaced by Gabbidon. Neither side appeared content to settle for extra time though and, when the ball broke free in front of goal after a Ben Turner error, Cole stayed cool to convert and send West Ham United into the last eight.
Coventry City: Marshall, Osbourne, Turner, De Zeeuw, Hall, McNamee, Tabb, Doyle (c), Best (Kyle 70), Gray (Simpson 46), Mifsud
Subs not used: Ward, Cairo, Thornton
West Ham United: Wright, Neill (c), Ferdinand (Gabbidon 85), Upson, McCartney, Bowyer, Mullins (Spector 46), Noble (Pantsil 61), Etherington, Boa Morte, Cole
Subs not used: Green, Reid