Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer says he expects to get a good reception from Birmingham City's fans, when the two sides go head to head at The Valley this weekend.

Bowyer spent two and a half years with the Blues between 2009 and 2011, initially joining on loan from West Ham for the second half of the 2008/09 campaign, helping them win promotion from the Championship, before making the move permanent the following summer.

During his time at St Andrew's, Bowyer made a total 94 appearances for the Blues and scored 12 goals, with his final at season at the club seeing Birmingham win the League Cup and suffer relegation from the Premier League.

Saturday's clash between the two sides will be the first time Bowyer has come up against one of his former clubs as a manager, and when asked going up against one of his old sides, the former midfielder told the South London Press: “It’s going to be strange.

“I have not been back there since I left, but I left on good terms. I like to think the fans will be kind to me. I gave everything every game I was there, so there is no reason not to.

“They are a good club. I had a good experience with them at Wembley as well. At the end of the day it is three points – that’s all I’m thinking off, not the reception or anything like that."

Reflecting on his time at St Andrew's, it seems Bowyer's memory of that part of his career still seems pretty good, as the Addicks boss continued: “I went there on loan. [Gianfranco] Zola said I could go out on loan from West Ham and they [Birmingham] were pushing for promotion. I went there for the last six months [of the 2008-09 season] and we got promoted.

“I scored on my debut [a 1-1 draw with Cardiff]. Alex McLeish liked what I brought to the team and kept me for the next couple of years.

"It was towards the end of my career. They are the only club I won anything with, the winners medal will be in my house.”

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Charlton go into the match with Birmingham second in the Championship, after winning four and drawing two of their opening six games of the season.

Birmingham meanwhile are ninth, having picked up three wins and a draw from their opening games of the campaign.

The Verdict

I think this is probably a fair assumption from Bowyer.

With the promotion and League Cup victory that came during his time at Birmingham, it does seem to have been a rather enjoyable period for the club, despite the ultimate disappointment of relegation from the Premier League.

That being said, I don't think that response will concern him too much whatever it is, so long as his current Charlton side get the three points on Saturday.

Given the impressive way the Addicks have started this season, they may well feel confident of doing that.