Birmingham City Football Club

• Nickname:Blues
• Founded:1875
• Manager:Lee Clark

• Ground:St Andrew's
• Capacity:30016

Blues launch Bowyer appeal

27 Apr 2009 - 12:55:03

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Birmingham City have lodged an appeal with the Football Association following midfielder Lee Bowyer's red card in Saturday's home defeat to Preston North End.

The controversial former Leeds United and West Ham star was dismissed after clashing with Lee Williamson, who was also sent off by referee Phil Dowd.

An FA regulatory commission will hear the appeal on Tuesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Blues boss Alex McLeish still believes his side can clinch an automatic promotion spot despite the setback against Preston.

City visit Reading next weekend needing a win to ensure a return to the Premier League, and McLeish admitted: "We have to bounce back straightaway. We've one game left to get up into the Premier League automatically.

"We had our opportunities at 1-1 and it didn't go for us and that's the difference between automatic promotion today and going to Reading next week to try and have a final crack at it before the play-offs begin."