Bowyer, 33, was shown a yellow card against West Brom by referee Chris Foy

Birmingham's Lee Bowyer has made an unreserved apology to a West Brom fan he exchanged words with after being substituted in Saturday's derby match.

The midfielder was taken off following a booking for a challenge on Gabriel Tamas in Blues' 3-1 away defeat.

Bowyer then spoke to a spectator seated behind the visitors' dugout as he took his seat on the bench.

The fan complained to stewards but a Baggies spokesman said Bowyer's apology marked "the end of the matter".

Bowyer moved to a different seat in the dugout following the exchange but will not face any further investigation over the incident.

"A fan made a complaint to a steward over comments made by Lee Bowyer after he had been substituted," confirmed a West Brom spokesman.

Lee is mature but I didn't want to take a chance and get egg on my face Birmingham manager Alex McLeish on Lee Bowyer's substitution

"But then Lee Bowyer made an unreserved apology to the supporter and that was the end of the matter."

Brmingham manager Alex McLeish had intended to withdraw Alexander Hleb in place of striker Nikola Zigic but opted to replace Bowyer instead.

The former England international initially appeared to be angered by a tackle from Gonzalo Jara and was then aggravated by referee Chris Foy's decision to show him the yellow card.

However, McLeish had insisted immediately after the match that his decision to take off the 33-year-old was a precaution.

"Lee is mature but I didn't want to take a chance and get egg on my face," he stated.

"We were talking about taking Alexander Hleb off at that time because he has not played a lot of football and he looked fatigued.

"Then Bowyer got the booking and I took him off just in case."

Bowyer has received one other yellow card so far this season - in Birmingham's 2-2 draw against Bolton on 29 August.

Another three league bookings before 31 December's 'amnesty' would result in him receiving an automatic one-match ban.

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