James Lawton: Bowyer dismissal leaves image rebuilding in tatters

When Lee Bowyer literally spat out his protest, obscenely, he surely knew that television was taking a close-up.

When Lee Bowyer literally spat out his protest, obscenely, he surely knew that television was taking a close-up. Also that it had precisely recorded the uncontrolled violence of his tackles on Liverpool's Xabi Alonso and Florent Sinoma-Pongolle that led to his disastrous dismissal. It is commonplace for players to scream their objections to even the most clear-cut decisions that go against them.

But Newcastle's Bowyer, who is supposed to rebuilding his image, behaved with particular abandon. Could it be that he really still doesn't care about whatever image he projects? If so, will his club and his professional organisation do anything to make him change his mind? Probably not.