West Ham United co-chairman David Gold admits he wants to thump former club Birmingham City tomorrow night.

The new West Ham co-owner left St Andrew's after 17 years in charge but his departure turned sour when accusations were made by the incoming regime about how the club had been run.

Gold lit the blue touchpaper on tomorrow's Upton Park showdown by saying: "I was at Birmingham City for years but I really want to give them a good whacking.

"I have a great fondness for them, but it was sad the way it ended."