Post by Tangerine Sherlock on Apr 3, 2011 17:01:32 GMT 1
Fulham edged closer to Premier League survival with a comprehensive victory that leaves Blackpool's own top-flight status in greater peril.
Bobby Zamora's two goals in the space of five minutes in the first half proved the catalyst as Fulham climbed into the top half of the table. The 30-year-old showed great composure to latch on to a wayward James Beattie pass and lash home in the 23rd minute before heading in Damien Duff's right-wing free-kick five minutes later for his first goals since August, which were also against these opponents. Dickson Etuhu settled the result with a 72nd-minute tap-in to secure Fulham's fifth home win in six matches.
The game also proved a welcome return to footballing action following the unveiling of the much discussed, and in some quarters maligned, Michael Jackson statue before the game by the Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed.
Heading into the 100th league meeting between the pair, the hosts were boosted by Zamora's recovery from illness and Steve Sidwell's return to the squad after a knee injury. The Blackpool manager Ian Holloway made two changes from the side that drew 2-2 at Blackburn Rovers a fortnight ago, with Beattie and Brett Ormerod replacing Luke Varney and Jason Puncheon in the starting line-up.
The home side controlled the opening stages, with Moussa Dembélé regularly testing Alex Baptiste down the left and the captain Danny Murphy seeing a low drive blocked. Charlie Adam blazed over Blackpool's first chance in the ninth minute, although his 35-yard effort never looked like it would add to his nine-goal haul this season.
Fulham were looking the more dangerous and hit the post in the 16th minute. Carlos Salcido's left-wing cross was headed back by Zamora to Dembélé, whose superb lay-off was met by an equally well-struck shot by Duff that the goalkeeper Richard Kingson did well to tip on to the woodwork.
Fulham again came close to breaking the deadlock five minutes later but Kingson blocked another drilled shot, this time denying Chris Baird.
However, the Ghana international could do nothing to prevent Zamora's smashed drive in the 23rd minute as he latched on to Beattie's poor backpass and ran clear before finishing with ease.
Zamora added his second of the afternoon five minutes later when he outjumped Craig Cathcart in the six-yard box to nod in Duff's whipped free-kick.
However, the home crowd's exuberance was tempered somewhat in the play that followed as the visitors began to get a foothold in the game and started to open up the Fulham defence. After thwarting the visitors, Fulham's calls for a 38th-minute penalty were waved away by the referee Stuart Attwell, who deemed Stephen Crainey's slide on Duff to be fair.
Blackpool came desperately close to reducing the deficit before the break. Ormerod beat Mark Schwarzer to Baptiste's long ball, but his goalbound header was cleared off the line by his former Southampton team-mate Baird.
Beattie came close to atoning for his earlier error, but his powerful shot clattered off the post. The former England international was soon replaced as Holloway made wholesale changes. Off came Beattie, Ormerod and Elliot Grandin to be replaced by Sergei Kornilenko, Varney and Puncheon. Holloway's move almost paid immediate dividends as the latter found space to test Schwarzer with a powerful 20-yard drive.
However, Fulham soon wrapped up the victory with their third of the afternoon through Etuhu. Murphy's free-kick was thumped off the post by Clint Dempsey and the rebound was fired across goal by Brede Hangeland for Etuhu to score.
Having earlier taken off Zamora, the goal allowed manager Hughes to replace Murphy with Sidwell, making his first appearance since February. Duff also soon departed to be replaced by Simon Davies, before Aaron Hughes and substitute Kornilenko clashed heads on the halfway line.
While the players received treatment, fans were treated to a Jackson tribute by a fan in the stands in what proved to be the last notable entertainment of the match.
from the guardian.
Bobby Zamora's two goals in the space of five minutes in the first half proved the catalyst as Fulham climbed into the top half of the table. The 30-year-old showed great composure to latch on to a wayward James Beattie pass and lash home in the 23rd minute before heading in Damien Duff's right-wing free-kick five minutes later for his first goals since August, which were also against these opponents. Dickson Etuhu settled the result with a 72nd-minute tap-in to secure Fulham's fifth home win in six matches.
The game also proved a welcome return to footballing action following the unveiling of the much discussed, and in some quarters maligned, Michael Jackson statue before the game by the Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed.
Heading into the 100th league meeting between the pair, the hosts were boosted by Zamora's recovery from illness and Steve Sidwell's return to the squad after a knee injury. The Blackpool manager Ian Holloway made two changes from the side that drew 2-2 at Blackburn Rovers a fortnight ago, with Beattie and Brett Ormerod replacing Luke Varney and Jason Puncheon in the starting line-up.
The home side controlled the opening stages, with Moussa Dembélé regularly testing Alex Baptiste down the left and the captain Danny Murphy seeing a low drive blocked. Charlie Adam blazed over Blackpool's first chance in the ninth minute, although his 35-yard effort never looked like it would add to his nine-goal haul this season.
Fulham were looking the more dangerous and hit the post in the 16th minute. Carlos Salcido's left-wing cross was headed back by Zamora to Dembélé, whose superb lay-off was met by an equally well-struck shot by Duff that the goalkeeper Richard Kingson did well to tip on to the woodwork.
Fulham again came close to breaking the deadlock five minutes later but Kingson blocked another drilled shot, this time denying Chris Baird.
However, the Ghana international could do nothing to prevent Zamora's smashed drive in the 23rd minute as he latched on to Beattie's poor backpass and ran clear before finishing with ease.
Zamora added his second of the afternoon five minutes later when he outjumped Craig Cathcart in the six-yard box to nod in Duff's whipped free-kick.
However, the home crowd's exuberance was tempered somewhat in the play that followed as the visitors began to get a foothold in the game and started to open up the Fulham defence. After thwarting the visitors, Fulham's calls for a 38th-minute penalty were waved away by the referee Stuart Attwell, who deemed Stephen Crainey's slide on Duff to be fair.
Blackpool came desperately close to reducing the deficit before the break. Ormerod beat Mark Schwarzer to Baptiste's long ball, but his goalbound header was cleared off the line by his former Southampton team-mate Baird.
Beattie came close to atoning for his earlier error, but his powerful shot clattered off the post. The former England international was soon replaced as Holloway made wholesale changes. Off came Beattie, Ormerod and Elliot Grandin to be replaced by Sergei Kornilenko, Varney and Puncheon. Holloway's move almost paid immediate dividends as the latter found space to test Schwarzer with a powerful 20-yard drive.
However, Fulham soon wrapped up the victory with their third of the afternoon through Etuhu. Murphy's free-kick was thumped off the post by Clint Dempsey and the rebound was fired across goal by Brede Hangeland for Etuhu to score.
Having earlier taken off Zamora, the goal allowed manager Hughes to replace Murphy with Sidwell, making his first appearance since February. Duff also soon departed to be replaced by Simon Davies, before Aaron Hughes and substitute Kornilenko clashed heads on the halfway line.
While the players received treatment, fans were treated to a Jackson tribute by a fan in the stands in what proved to be the last notable entertainment of the match.
from the guardian.