Venables: Bowyer controls his own destiny

Terry Venables insisted Lee Bowyer’s Elland Road destiny lay in his own hands after the Leeds midfielder turned on the style to sink gutsy West Brom on their big day at The Hawthorns.

Bowyer rammed home a superb 52nd-minute second goal for Leeds and set up Mark Viduka’s third as his side coasted to an ultimately comfortable 3-1 win.

The midfielder, who almost joined Liverpool in the close season, is still refusing to sign a contract extension which means Leeds could lose him on a Bosman free transfer next summer.

Venables said: “Lee was terrific and he has been like that in training every day.

“He is so enthusiastic, he is keen to learn new things and he has been a joy to have in the squad. He really has done excellently.”

Responding to chants from the Leeds supporters who urged Bowyer to sign a new deal, Venables added: “Of course I’d like him to sign but it’s all in his hands. He has another year left and he has a right to see that out or renegotiate a contract. We will see in time what will happen.”

Venables paid tribute to Albion’s tenacious early assault which ought to have given them a good half-time lead.

“We knew they would throw everything at us and they certainly did that,” he added.

“But we weren’t punished and we got on to a very good game. We adapted very well as the game went on and I am very pleased.”

Albion boss Gary Megson blasted his side’s profligacy in front of goal which undoubtedly cost them at least a point.

Andy Johnson, Jason Roberts, Scott Dobie and Igor Balis were among those who spurned good chances for Albion before Harry Kewell made them pay with a first-half opener for Leeds.

When Lee Marshall did finally score the Baggies’ first Premiership goal – but they were 3-0 down by then.

Megson, locked in talks to bring Lee Hughes back to The Hawthorns, admitted: “It is something we’re looking at - we need somebody who can score from six yards.

“You can’t shy away from it - it is a poor effort when you are missing the target from six yards. It didn’t just happen once, it happened too many times, and we’ve got to improve on that.

“I think if we’d scored the first goal it would have changed the game entirely.

“It wasn’t through a lack of opportunities, it was poor finishing and turning down that chance to shoot. We had terrific chances.

“I would be hard-pushed to think of a time in the first 35 minutes where we’ve played as well as that and created as many chances in the time I’ve been here and we didn’t score from any of them.”