An early Lee Bowyer goal gave Birmingham City a 1-0 victory over struggling local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers in their Premier League encounter at Molineux yesterday.
Bowyer’s fifth goal of the season makes him the club’s leading scorer and extends Birmingham’s undefeated run to five matches, the best they have managed under Alex McLeish since he succeeded Steve Bruce two years ago.
Bowyer’s goal defeated Fulham the previous weekend and if confidence is short in the Wolves dressing room, it is bursting from the seams of the former Leeds midfielder, judging by the audacious way he clipped a 20m chip over Marcus Hahnemann in just the second minute.
Hahnemann was making his Premier League debut for Wolves, with Wayne Hennessey relegated to the bench.
Christian Benitez and Cameron Jerome’s movement left Jody Craddock and Christophe Berra chasing shadows for long periods and Jerome was unfortunate not to extend the visitors’ lead when he volleyed straight at Hahnemann.
Wolves have not won for eight games now and were in such a state of disarray that McCarthy elected to withdraw the lackluster Greg Halford after only 30 minutes and replace him with a half-fit Michael Kightly.
The move back-fired when the winger was forced out of the action with what looked like an ankle injury just after an hour.
As an attacking threat, even before Kightly departed, Wolves were poor.
Kevin Doyle is still suffering from the effects of the Republic of Ireland’s defeat in the World Cup play-offs to France and it took Wolves fully 75 minutes before Matthew Jarvis tested Joe Hart in the Birmingham goal.
Hart’s poor punch from a corner gave Jarvis a shooting chance from 15m, but the goalkeeper was able to push away the ensuing shot despite being unsighted by a crowd of players.
Birmingham should have had things wrapped up before then.
Jerome’s powerful surge and pass set up James McFadden for a gilt-edged chance to finish off their opponents, but he delayed his shot too long, allowing substitute Stephen Ward to block.
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