Bow bells tolling for ailing Hammers

FOR a man who claims to have West Ham in his heart, Lee Bowyer has a funny way of showing it.

Having done little to endear himself to the Upton Park faithful during two unsuccessful playing spells with the club, he not only inflicted more misery on his boyhood heroes on Saturday with a winner for Birmingham but then cast doubt on whether his former club can win their survival battle.

Bowyer’s goal – which extended City’s unbeaten run to seven, from which they have collected 17 points – helped to plunge Gianfranco Zola’s side back into the bottom three.

Bowyer has sympathy for Zola even though he felt he did not receive a fair chance from the former Chelsea player before he moved from Upton Park to Blues 11 months ago.

“I am sorry to see West Ham at the bottom,” he said. “When I was there under Alan Curbishley, we had a decent squad. I feel sorry for Zola and [his assistant] Steve Clarke because it is out of their hands a bit, what is happening to that club.

“West Ham have lost some good players. For example, Craig Bellamy went and they’ve not really replaced those type of players.

“There are rumours David Sullivan and David Gold might be going there and, if they can do to West Ham what they did for this club, it will be a great move for West Ham.”

Asked about the Hammers’ survival chances, Bowyer added: “In this league you need to score and, if you don’t, you are going to be in trouble. Kieron Dyer has just come back, which is a bonus to them, and he is going to be a big player for them but you need more than one player to score you goals.

“I couldn’t see too many threats out there that were going to get the goals for them. Carlton Cole is out, and he is a big player for them, but, yes, I am a bit concerned for them.”

Bowyer declined to celebrate his second-half winner out of respect for the Hammers.

“I supported West Ham as a boy and I’ll always support West Ham,” he added. “That is my home club. I was fortunate enough to play for them. I respect the club and people involved, Zola, Clarke and the fans.”

Bowyer believes he is proving West Ham were wrong to allow him leave in January and admits he feels at ease working under Alex McLeish.

“Everyone wants to feel loved in a way, wanted, and that is how I feel here. The management, coaching staff and the fans have made me feel like that,” he said.

“I wasn’t down at West Ham. It was just I didn’t think I got a fair go once Curbishley went. That is out of my hands.

“When you feel you should be playing in front of other players, you are not in control. I didn’t think I had a fair go but that is football.

“Football is about opinions and decisions and that is why I am here now and I’m proving people wrong.”

Zola is refusing to press the panic button and admits the return of Dyer after a lengthy injury lay-off is a big plus and he came close to equalising when his shot hit the post.

“We are not panicking. If you see our team play, it doesn’t look like a team panicking.

“It is important to keep calm. It is a long way. Dyer did well and, with him, the matter is about fitness. Right now he cannot play the whole game because it might affect his injury situation.”

Zola’s mood was not helped by an absurd red card for Mark Noble, dismissed for two yellow cards, neither of which warranted more than a mere ticking-off.

REFEREE: Lee Mason (Lancashire) 4: Zola felt the ref had “taken the day off” and was not far wrong. Noble dismissal laughable.

MATCH RATING: *** Not a classic but Birmingham fans will not care about that.