Zigic gives Grant a miserable birthday
WEST HAM (0) vs BIRMINGHAM (1)
WEST HAM boss Avram Grant admits that defeat to relegation rivals Birmingham ruined his birthday.
Grant, who turned 56 yesterday, watched his side lose 1-0 at Upton Park as a 65th minute goal from Nikola Zigic gave Birmingham a vital three points. “How can I celebrate?” Grant said after the match. “We didn’t score and didn’t win. It is not a happy birthday but it is not me that is important it is the team.”
The game itself was a scrappy affair with West Ham looking more threatening in the first period. But the introduction of midfielder Sebastian Larsson proved crucial for the visitors as his free-kick was headed home by the towering Zigic.
The defeat leaves West Ham bottom ahead of next week’s clash with fellow strugglers West Brom. Birmingham climbed out of the relegation zone to 16th place, with just seven points now separating the bottom 11 teams in the Premier League.