Bowyer's timing was perfect, says boss.

LEE Bowyer's contribution to the Blues cause was praised by Alex McLeish.

Bowyer was a key performer in the push for Championship promotion on loan and has continued to do the business after signing permanently in the summer on a free transfer from West Ham United.

"I said to Lee before the game to time your runs, pick your moments, and you can see he has still got that in his locker," said McLeish. "It was a fantastic goal, precision finishing and that's what was needed to beat a goalkeeper of such calibre from a tight angle.

"He is renowned for those type of runs. People were questioning when I brought him here maybe he was past his best in terms of his legs. But that guy can run all day, he has got great energy and still shows he has got the knack for that ghosting run into the box.

"Midfielders find it hard to pick him up and it was the one piece of magic on the day from us."

"Lee has been awesome," McLeish added. "His energy is fantastic, he wins the ball, keeps it, and he's scoring goals.

"He got one for us during the run-in last season; it could have been six. I had no hesitation in securing his services in the summer for this season and the next.

"He is all-action and he was involved in everything for us."

Bowyer, Blues' top scorer with four goals, was at his best attacking from deep positions, McLeish admitted.

"We tried him in that advanced midfield role with the one up early in the season and you don't really get the best out of him in that position, although we played well in a lot of those games," he said.

"But, coming deeper from midfield, he is still a threat and he picks his moments. We have told him to pick his moments. He can't do it every single run.

"He is now mature, an intelligent guy with a lot of experience and older players tend to learn from their experiences during the seasons."