Source: Daily_Mail
Birmingham 1 West Ham 0: Lee Bowyer fears for poor Hammers
Lee Bowyer performed like a professional but spoke as a fan as he highlighted West Ham's problems on and off the pitch.[LNB]As far as Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is concerned, the midfielder possessesa saintly hue after his third goal in four matches again proved the difference.[LNB]Saint Lee of St Andrew's refused to celebrate against the team he supported as a boy and later played for. But Bowyer's comments about West Ham's plight will no doubt strike a chord.[LNB]'I am sorry to see them down there,' said Bowyer. 'When I was there under Alan Curbishley we had a decent squad and I feel sorry for Gianfranco Zola.[LNB] Born again Bowyer: He has so often been cast as the villain, but there is no doubting Lee Bowyer's loyalty to West Ham, the club he supported as a boy. The midfielder declined to celebrate his goal on Saturday[LNB]'What's happening at that club is out of his hands. They have lost some good playersand you can see the type of replacements they have. Craig Bellamy left and they have not really replaced him. In this league, you need goals or you will be in trouble.[LNB]'Kieron Dyer has come back but you need more than one player who can score goals. I couldn't really see many players out there who are going to get the goals for them. Carlton Cole is out and he is obviously a big player.'[LNB]Zola admitted that Bowyer was released partly for financial reasons. Yet he was fit and wasn't selected at the time and McLeish did not have too many competitors for the midfielder's signature.[LNB]'Every player wants to be wanted and loved,' added Bowyer. 'And that is how I feel here. The management and coaching staff and fans have made me feel like that. At West Ham I didn't feel I got a fair go once Curbishley went. No one was horrible to me, though, neither the fans nor the management, and that's why I didn't celebrate. To a certain extent they let me go because of money, but they still could have played me while I was there.'[LNB] Marching orders: Mark Noble was sent off to compound the Hammers' misery[LNB]Bowyer may have scored the goal, but Birmingham's success owed an enormous amount to their defensive rigidity.[LNB]The pressure was on after three straight victories and this triumph equalled their best run in the top-flight for six seasons.[LNB]There is a pragmatism about both their play and their players. Cameron Jerome, for instance, did not score the goal, but his drive and industry still emphasise what an exceptional athlete he is.[LNB]'We are solid,' added Bowyer. 'There's a good belief among us. We have good experience now in key positions.[LNB]'I'm delighted for the defence because people were asking questions about the two centre halves (Roger Johnson and Scott Dann) who have come from the Championship. They have done exceptionally well. Joe Hart made a good save to protect the points. We know and understand why each of us is in the team.[LNB]'But we look at what happened to Hull last season. They were in fourth and ended up lucky not to go down. We will just concentrate on picking up points.'[LNB]Birmingham City: (4-4-2) Hart 7; Carr 8, R Johnson 8, Dann 8, Ridgewell 6; Larsson 8, Ferguson 7, Bowyer 9, McFadden 7; (Phillips 90) Benitez 7, (Fahey 90) Jerome 7. [LNB]Booked: Ferguson, Ridgewell, R Johnson.[LNB]West Ham Utd: (4-3-3) Green 7; Faubert 6, Tomkins 6, Gabbidon 6, Ilunga 5; (Nouble 83) Kovac 5, (Dyer 69, 7) Parker 8, Noble 6; Stanislas 5, (Collison 69, 6) Franco 5, Diamanti 6. [LNB]Booked: Collison, Diamanti, Kovac, Noble. Sent off: Noble.[LNB]Man of the match: Lee Bowyer.[LNB]Referee: Lee Mason[LNB] PIERS MORGAN: Ashton's a good guy, he doesn't deserve such a cruel fateBIRMINGHAM CITY FC
