Source: Team_Talk
Bowyer: Blues move wasn't a gamble
And City boss Alex McLeish believes the former England midfielder has taken his game to "another level" this season.[LNB]Bowyer was deemed surplus to requirements in the final year of his contract at Upton Park and allowed to move to Blues last January, initially on loan before making the move permanent in the summer.[LNB]The 32-year-old admits it would have been an easy option to remain in London and pick up his wages but he was desperate to start playing again, albeit initially by dropping down into the Championship.[LNB]But Bowyer played a major role in helping City gain promotion back to the Premier League and is their top scorer during the current campaign with five goals.[LNB]Bowyer said: "Was it a gamble leaving West Ham, dropping down a league? I wouldn't say I took a gamble. [LNB]"Birmingham were a good side who were unlucky to go down from the Premier League the season before, I think by only the one point.[LNB]"From my point of view, all I wanted to do was get back playing. You've got to grab the chance to do that with both hands and play as much as you possibly can - because one day it will stop.[LNB]"I don't why but, for one reason or other, West Ham didn't want to extend my contract so I came to Birmingham and it has turned out to be a good thing for all parties.[LNB]"Yes, some would have been happy to stay and pick up their money, especially with me being from London and that being where I live but I just want to play football.[LNB]"That's the main thing. I'm back playing and enjoying my football and waking up on a Sunday after a win and feeling happy."[LNB]McLeish said: "I am sure it will be nice for Lee to play against his old team and hopefully show they were wrong to let him go or not use him as much as they could.[LNB]"He has been outstanding for us. I don't think Lee will be affected by the occasion but will be determined to do for the team what he has been doing since day one for us.[LNB]"He has gone to another level of play with us."[LNB]Bowyer also believes it is unfair that he has been labelled as someone who is prone to injuries.[LNB]He said: "I had one spell at West Ham where I had a dodgy tendon in my right thigh. I just got mis-diagnosed a couple of times and sometimes that happens.[LNB]"But that isn't bad over 13 years. I think that was my only bad time injury-wise.[LNB]"I don't think anyone can question my fitness or my work-rate so I think I was just unlucky in that middle spell at West Ham."[LNB]Bowyer cites work-rate and an ability to keep clean sheets as key factors in Birmingham's rise into the top half of the Premier League.[LNB]And he again stressed the need for the expectation levels to be kept on an even keel after a six-game unbeaten run which has yielded 14 points.[LNB]Bowyer said: "There aren't going to be many pretty games for us this season. We are not going to go out there and out-pass teams like the Arsenals and Manchester Uniteds do.[LNB]"We have to work hard for our points. As long as we can get clean sheets, we will nick goals. We are just going to keep working hard, which I think is the main thing in this league, and see where that takes us.[LNB]"We've put a little cushion between ourselves and the teams at the bottom but there is a long way to go.[LNB]"We are not getting too far ahead of ourselves. We know it is a tough season, a long season, and we've just got to keep plugging away and putting in shifts.[LNB]"We've been unlucky as well. We should have won at Spurs, we were unlucky when Bolton scored late on, against Man City with the missed penalty, and the dive for the penalty at Liverpool but it all equals itself out.[LNB]"We are not going to get ahead of ourselves, see where each point takes us but at the moment we are very happy."[LNB][LNB] Birmingham v West Ham 1st Goalscorer: Bowyer, L. 8/1
