West Ham United

Avram Grant’s future at the Irons helm remains in major doubt, although a 2-0 FA Cup third-round win over Barnsley eased the pressure on the Israeli for the time being.

An optimistic note can also be struck by his side’s progress to the last four of the Carling Cup, with a 4-0 Boleyn Ground demolition of Manchester United in the last round the major highlight. Grant’s men have also seen off Stoke City and Sunderland on their way to the semis.

However, West Ham are the outsiders to reach Wembley (evens for the tie) in a tie given extra spice by the former owner of the Blues, Davids Gold and Sullivan, having taken charge of the claret and blues.

City head to the capital as slight outsiders to win on the night (Birmingham 23/10 – match betting), but they are expected to edge out their London rivals to reach a first final since their heartbreaking penalty shoot-out loss to Liverpool in 2001.

Much of their strength is derived from a resolute back four in which both Roger Johnson and Scott Dann have been mooted as possible England calls, but goals remain hard to come by for Alex McLeish’s side and the Scot may be tempted to draft in striker Matt Derbyshire, who netted twice in a 4-1 weekend FA Cup win over Millwall.

Wednesday evening sees Championship strugglers Ipswich Town play host to Arsenal in a tie which is seen by most tipsters as a one-horse race.

The hosts, who axed manager Roy Keane last week and drafted in Paul Jewell as a replacement, were thumped 7-0 at Chelsea in the FA Cup third round at the weekend, while their league form has seen them win just once in nine games to plunge down the Championship table.

They have also scored a mere one goal in their last five games and Town’s dreadful recent form is reflected heavily in the match odds, which see the Gunners as overwhelming favourites for victory in East Anglia (Ipswich 15/2 – match betting).

Arsene Wenger’s men have their eyes on bigger prizes this season but having gone five years without a trophy, the chance of booking a Wembley final should be very tempting.

Town fans will be doom-laden when confronted by the fact that the Gunners have sailed through to the semis by despatching Wigan Athletic, Newcastle United and north London rivals Spurs, who scored the only goals that Arsenal have conceded in the competition this season.

Ten goals scored in three ties also show that the Arsenal attack is having few problems in firing in the Carling Cup, even though Wenger continues to use the competition as something of an avenue for experimentation.

With a place in the final seemingly certain, Wenger may be tempted to field a full-strength team in the home second leg, but whatever side takes the field at Portman Road it should still be more than enough to see off a downbeat Town outfit.

The only note of caution for Arsenal comes with the knowledge that new Tractor Boys boss Jewell masterminded Wigan’s shock semi-final success over the Gunners in 2005-06.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.