MATTHEW Upson will play an unfamiliar role at left-back as West Ham bid for a place at Wembley in their Carling Cup semi-final first leg clash against Birmingham at Upton Park.

Winston Reid partners James Tomkins in the centre, with Julien Faubert coming in at right back.

Scott Parker, Mark Noble and Jonathan Spector make up the central midfield three, with Freddie Sears and Victor Obinna on the flanks and Freddie Piquionne up front.

West Ham: Green, Upson, Reid, Tomkins, Faubert, Spector, Parker, Noble, Obinna, Piquionne. Subs: Boffin, Cole, Boa Morte, Kovac, Nouble, Hines, Spence