Ben Foster showed why he’s no longer a Manchester United player in the Carling Cup semi-final. He may also have provided a stay of execution for West Ham boss Avram Grant.

It’s a game that shouldn’t have escaped the clutches of Birmingham, but Foster’s mistake leaves West Ham on the brink of a Wembley appearance and it might just be enough to keep Grant in his job - or prolong his agony.

Even when he gets a positive result, the speculation just won’t go away. There seems to be an acceptance that he will leave Upton Park eventually, but no-one’s quite sure when.

In a season of struggle, Grant’s team has been able to pull a rabbit out of the hat each time their manager is on the brink. From their first league win of the season against Spurs to their victories over relegation rivals Fulham and Wolves, his players seem determined to do it at the most critical stage.

But for every one step they take forward, they seem to take two or in the case of their recent annihilation by Newcastle, five steps back and it’s leading to the constant speculation that Grant says he is sick and tired of.

The fact that they’re still only one point off their nearest rivals at the foot of the table and two points away from 14^th place shows there is some resilience in his squad of players.

The problem is they’re just not showing it often enough. As a result, the Hammers board may decide to take a gamble on somebody they think might be able to summon the squad’s dormant ability on a consistent basis.

Of course there is a way to change the course of newspaper speculation. They can go and beat Arsenal at the weekend. But for that to happen, Grant might need another helping hand from the opposition’s goalkeeper.