Lee Bowyer reaches 50 games in charge of Birmingham City - and it’s a job well done so far

Saturday’s goalless draw with Hull City marked 50 games in charge of Birmingham City for manager Lee Bowyer.

A quick glance at the Championship table compared to just shy of a year ago when Lee Bowyer began his reign with a crucial 2-1 victory over Reading might suggest to some that progress has been minimal during his time at the helm.

Blues currently sit 19^th in the table with 41 points from 37 matches at an average of 1.10 points per game this season. When Bowyer took over, Blues were a fraction shy of a point per game in the last campaign before he took 17 points from the final ten games to emphatically steer a seemingly-doomed Birmingham side to safety.

So, whilst the points per game acquired under Bowyer this season is down on his spell which finished the previous season, there are many mitigating factors. Furthermore, there are other aspects of the team which have improved tremendously – not least the introduction of younger players and style of play.

Overall, Blues are in a much better state – on the field at least – than when Bowyer arrived from Charlton Athletic and the former Blues midfielder deserves much credit for this.

At times this season, Bowyer’s tactics have – fairly – been called into question, but the ex-Leeds United star has turned things around and he has plenty of credit in the bank.

What’s changed from 12 months ago?

Blues fans, overwhelmingly, feel the club is now led by an upbeat manager whose team looks to score goals and win games, as opposed to Bowyer’s predecessor Aitor Karanka under whom Blues were almost always set up to protect what they had – seemingly happy to play for draws whoever the opponent whilst trying to nick goals from set-pieces.

The fan base – emphatically – agreed that Karanka was leading the team into League One and, 12 months on, Bowyer must be praised for the instant turnaround in form he inspired which spared the club from the disaster of relegation.

He did this with a ‘back to basics’ approach of 4-4-2 and getting as many balls into the box from wingers supplying big striker Lukas Jutkiewicz. The tactic worked and teams found Blues a real handful at the back end of 2020/21.

However, Jutkiewicz turns 33 in a fortnight and is undoubtedly fourth choice striker behind current forwards Lyle Taylor, Troy Deeney and Scott Hogan. As loved as ‘Juke’ is by the Blues faithful for his whole-hearted displays during six years at the club, his better days are behind him and Bowyer has had to find another way of playing.

Academy graduates playing their part

Where Blues are in a much healthier state than a year ago is the fact that several teenagers have been introduced into the first team squad on a more consistent basis and, for a club still having to be prudent in its transfer dealings, this is of paramount importance.

Bowyer has placed faith in the likes of 17-year-old midfielder Jordan James and 19-year-old defender Nico Gordon to come into the squad and express themselves – playing without fear and showing they are capable of taking their form from the under 23s and the training pitches into the rigours of Championship football.

All too often under Karanka, the feeling was Blues were a slow and ponderous team relying on the likes of George Friend and Adam Clayton to take the club forward which, with all due to respect to model professional Friend in particular, was never going to happen.

Bowyer was faced with turning around an oil tanker. In doing so, he has kept plenty of experience in the side but it is now complemented by younger legs and the blend of youth and older heads in the side is much better.

Injuries easing and form improving

There is little doubt Blues’ campaign has been ruined by injuries. They have spent spells this season with just one fit senior defender and were also decimated up front – with Bowyer rarely being able to establish partnerships in key areas of the pitch.

The loss of Tahith Chong for well over half the season was a body blow. He was the marquee signing to build the team around and his freak October injury ruined Bowyer’s plans.

As bodies have returned in the last few weeks, Blues have looked more assured defensively – albeit with much still to work on – whilst also looking capable of scoring more than once in a game.

New additions making a difference

It has been a long time since Blues had a central midfielder in the mould of who can drive forward at pace, beat a man and strike the ball so dangerously. His permanent signing, backed up by the loan arrivals of winger Onel Hernandez and forward Taylor, have made Blues a threat on the break and also a side happier to keep possession of the ball again.

There is a very realistic possibility that Hernandez and Taylor could arrive permanently in the summer and, if they do, then Blues should be very confident of having the firepower to steer well clear of trouble and perhaps look to push into the top half.

The St Andrew’s faithful have yet to see the best of Deeney as injuries have hampered his campaign. When he did enjoy a run in the side, the style of play was rigid and he was often starved of service.

However, he remains a deadly marksman at this level and, if Blues can persuade Manchester United into another season-long loan for Chong and the likes of Hernandez and Taylor are still around when the new campaign begins in August, then Blues fans could well be looking upwards again rather than over their shoulders as has been an all too familiar tale in recent seasons.

For all the statistics and analysis, what matters is people’s gut feeling. This time a year ago, Blues looked doomed to the third tier. Now, though, there is a sense of disappointment that the current season is drawing to a close.

Bring on August under Lee Bowyer.

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