Keith Andrews has been speaking on the latest edition of the Sky Sports EFL podcast about all things relating to the Championship, League One, and League Two.
One of the topics that the Sky Sports pundit spent some time on was the Championship relegation battle, and one of the teams that he talked about was Birmingham City.
Birmingham appointed Lee Bowyer in March, and he has taken ten points from his first five games to move his old club away from the relegation zone with just five games left to play.
The Blues are now nine points clear of the drop zone, and Andrews was full of praise for Bowyer.
He said: (27:21) “To put it absolutely, bluntly, he’s been brilliant.
“He’s instilled what you would have anticipated Lee Bowyer instilling into the team. There’s more aggression; there’s more energy; they’re on the front foot; he’s really utilised Lukas Jutkiewicz very, very well.
“He’s been speaking about him in terms of at this level; he is a proven goalscorer; all he needs is a particular type of service. So look, it’s been amazing.
“I don’t think even he would have envisaged the start that he would have had to life back at his old stomping ground.”
Have you been impressed with Bowyer?
Yes, he has had a brilliant start
No, he could be doing more
TIF Thoughts on Bowyer…
Since arriving at St Andrew’s, Bowyer has turned the club around, and they have pulled off good wins against Swansea City and Reading and Lukas Jutkiewicz has scored three goals in those games.
Bowyer was with Charlton Athletic in the Championship last season and couldn’t quite keep them up, but it looks like he will do that with Birmingham this season.
If he does, we will be intrigued to see what he can do next year as he continues to build his growing reputation as a manager.
In other news: ‘It’s a gamble’ – Sky Sports pundit drops claim on Lee Bowyer’s Birmingham City decision