WEST HAM’S midfield maestros Scott Parker and Mark Noble have called on the team to replicate the last performance at St Andrew’s as they attempt to reach their first cup final in almost five years by sinking Birmingham City in their own back yard.

The Hammers take a slender one-goal advantage to the midlands in two weeks’ time, thanks in no small part to the contributions of Parker and Noble, the former delivering yet another dynamic display in the middle of the park and the latter scoring with a stunning volley to get the side off to a flier on Tuesday night at Upton Park.

Carlton Cole’s scuffed effort, helped into the net by goalkeeper Ben Foster, secured the 2-1 win after Liam Ridgewell had pulled the visitors level and Victor Obinna’s petulant kick left the hosts to battle through the last half hour a man down.

But a Carling Cup final at Wembley now beckons if the team can cure their habit of fading in the second half of games. That was the case until Cole’s counter-punch in midweek, and it was a pattern that was repeated when Birmingham came back from two goals down to secure a draw in the league clash earlier in the campaign.

That day all the groundwork was laid in the first period, and two early goals after the break appeared to have handed West Ham a vital victory. But Cameron Jerome and Ridgewell again denied the visitors.

Parker insisted the semi-final tie remained very much in the balance, and accepted the task was a steep one facing them at St Andrew’s.

“It is going to be difficult. We go to their place, but I think we can take some positives from when we went there earlier in the season when we were 2-0 up,” said the midfielder.

“We know it is going to be tough, but we took some positives out of the first half today and if we can reproduce that in both halves we have got a good chance.”

His thoughts were echoed by Noble, who was back to his best after a frustrating spell on the sidelines through injury.

“I suppose it is poised for a great game up there,” he said. “St Andrew’s is a tough place to go and play. We went there earlier in the season and played well but they nicked a 2-2 draw. We were in command that day but cup games are different.”

Noble also paid tribute to the makeshift backline that withstood much of what Birmingham threw at them, with Winston Reid coming in for a rare start in the centre of defence alongside James Tomkins, and skipper Matthew Upson being pushed out to left-back.

“Playing against Premier League teams with 11 men is hard enough but playing with ten is something else. I thought we defended unbelievably. Winston, Julien, Matty (Upson) and Tonks (James Tomkins) were brilliant.

“It just seemed like they had 50 midfield players at one time. But credit to each of the boys, we ground it out.”