Two goals in the last three minutes by the West Ham substitutes Paul Kitson and Joe Cole harshly sent Birmingham City to defeat last night after their under-strength team looked to have pulled off a notable upset. Birmingham without 11 first-team players because of an injury crisis went into an early lead in the eighth minute when Allan Johnston, on loan from Sunderland, ran at the West Ham defence and although his shot was blocked, Graham Hyde forced in the loose ball.

But West Ham equalised after 20 minutes in spectacular, if fortuitous, fashion as Steve Lomas sent a long-range shot beyond Kevin Poole with the help of a headed deflection.

Martin Grainger then ensured that things moved from the ridiculous to the sublime by curling in a wonderful free-kick from 30 yards to put Birmingham clear again.

West Ham brought on Trevor Sinclair for the second half and the hopes of their fans must also have risen when Charles departed with a badly gashed shin after a challenge with Grainger. That, after all, was the signal for Cole to enter the fray.

But even then the Londoners failed to create a clear chance from all their possession and it said much for their mounting frustration that when Wanchope was taken off he gestured towards the bench.

When Poole saved brilliantly from Frank Lampard in the 80th minute it seemed that the First Division team were heading for the quarter-finals. But close-range goals by Kitson and then Cole cruelly denied them.

Birmingham: Poole, Rowett, Hyde (Hughes 46), Holdsworth, Grainger, Bass, Johnson, O'Connor, Holland, Purse, Johnston. Subs Not Used: Charlton, Newton, Gill, Bennett. Booked: Purse, Hyde. Goals: Hyde 8, Grainger 44.

West Ham: Hislop, Ferdinand, Ruddock, Margas (Sinclair 46), Charles (Cole 53), Lomas, Lampard, Foe, Keller, Wanchope (Kitson 59), Di Canio. Subs Not Used: Minto, Forrest. Goals: Lomas 21, Kitson 87, Cole 89. Att: 17,728.

Referee: G Poll (Tring).