Birmingham 2-1 Reading: Lee Bowyer WINS his first game in charge

Lee Bowyer was part of one of the great Wembley shocks when he helped Birmingham beat Arsenal in the League Cup Final 10 years ago – but keeping the club in the Championship this season might just top it.

The former Blues midfielder, who quit Charlton this week to replace Aitor Karanka and become Blues’ eighth manager in five and a half years, made the perfect start to his reign with a crucial win over promotion-chasing Reading as captain Harlee Dean scored the winner. 

The 2011 victory was Bowyer’s only trophy as a player but it is fair to assume avoiding League One would taste even sweeter.

Birmingham boss Lee Bowyer won his first game in charge against Reading on Wednesday

The match looked destined for a draw thanks to first-half goals from Lukas Jutkiewicz and Yakou Meite but Dean’s 71st-minute header secured three priceless points.

Blues are now six points above the drop zone but Rotherham, who are third-bottom, have four games in hand following a number of Covid-19-related postponements.

Jutkiewicz gave his new manager the perfect start when he outmuscled Liam Moore at the far post to head home Jeremie Bela’s cross with less than four minutes on the clock – his 50th goal for the club.

Yet Reading, whose promotion hopes suffered a blow with this defeat, grew into the game and it was no surprise when they drew level 10 minutes before the interval.

Neil Etheridge flapped at Michael Olise’s corner and Meite anticipated well to nod in at the far post.

Birmingham rallied and might have regained the lead in first-half stoppage time when Alen Halilovic shot powerfully only for Rafael to gather at the second attempt.

Reading boss Veljko Paunovic was agitated throughout and he nearly boiled over when Lucas Joao tumbled under Gary Gardner’s challenge but referee Andy Woolmer let play go on.

And Birmingham took advantage in the final quarter when the visitors failed to clear a corner and Dean headed in from 12 yards.

There was still time for Etheridge to push away Olise’s fierce volley and then scramble the ball to safety as substitute George Puscas prepared to pounce.