Source: Daily_Mail
Birmingham 1 West Ham 0: Lee Bowyer haunts hapless Hammers
These are heady days indeed for Birmingham and nobody is enjoying them more than Lee Bowyer, the one time 'bovver boy' of English football.[LNB]Bowyer, 33 next month, may be closing in on the veteran class but he is the driving force behind the club's unexpected climb up the Premier League.[LNB]It was his winning goal here against West Ham his sixth of the season - that pushed Birmingham into eighth spot and leaves them looking to Europe rather than relegation.[LNB] Get in: Lee Bowyer slots the ball past Robert Green[LNB]For boss Alex McLeish, it makes Bowyer one of the great bargainsignings of recent years since joining the club on a free from WestHam, a club he spun further into crisis here.[LNB]McLeish said: 'He looks a bargain now. What would he be worth after scoring six goals and a number of them winning goals?[LNB]'We have given him the ambience he needs, the proper atmosphere to relax and feel comfortable about his game.'[LNB]The surprise is why West Ham decided that Bowyer was surplus to requirements one year ago.[LNB] Brum rush: Birmingham's Liam Ridgewell has a shot saved by West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green[LNB]West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola confirmed he simply could not find aplace for him. Zola, unhappy with a defeat which put his side into thebottom three said: 'I know how capable he is. It is painful for me tosay that today.'[LNB]Birmingham survived a determined recovery by a West Ham side who hadto battle with 10 men after Mark Noble was sent off for a second yellowcard 11 minutes from time.[LNB]What Zola must BELLAMYrecognise, however, is Birmingham's overallsuperiority. McLeish's team should have put this game way beyond WestHam before Bowyer's strike.[LNB] Diving in: Alessandro Diamanti and Birmingham's James McFadden (right) battle for the ball[LNB]Cameron Jerome had a perfect scoring opportunity in the 45th minute, but his header in front of goal looped over the bar.[LNB]Bowyer's football was compelling to watch and so full of energy. Itpaid off in the 52nd minute when he ran on to a pass from ChristianBenitez to slam a low shot away from Robert Green.[LNB]Kieron Dyer, a late substitute, then came closest to an equaliser when his shot clipped the post.[LNB]Noble, who had been booked for dissent by referee Lee Mason, lungedin on Benitez in the 72nd minute. Zola said: 'The referee is human.They make mistakes. This time there were too many.'[LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] West Ham's Dean Ashton forced to retire from football at just 26Dean Ashton: I may never run again, admits retired West Ham strikerBIRMINGHAM CITY FC
