Relief for Zamora as drought ends

SOMETIMES, it is best for managers not to bow to player power.

Bobby Zamora had been so beleaguered by his wretched recent form for Fulham that he asked his manager Roy Hodgson if he could be withdrawn from the firing line.

Hodgson refused and the tough love approach reaped handsome dividends yesterday, as Zamora ended his scoring drought — which had stretched to 29 hours of league football — to help his side up to eighth in the Premier League table.

Fulham’s win was sealed late on by Andy Johnson, but Zamora inevitably dominated the post-match discussion.

“It’s pretty obvious a weight has been lifted from Bobby,” Hodgson said. “As for me, I suppose I enjoy a sense of relief too because I always believed in Zamora and Johnson.

“There’s been a time when Bobby would have welcomed a break from it all. But we’ve kept him on track and said to him: ‘That’s what we want you to do.’”

Hodgson also saw midfielder Danny Murphy hit the post and the crossbar and a swerving Clint Dempsey drive thud the upright before going in goalless at half-time. When it came, the opener was almost as long overdue as Zamora’s second league strike of the season.

The former West Ham and Tottenham forward appeared rejuvenated after his goal, lashing just over two minutes later and then seeing his powerful shot beaten away by Scott Carson to set up Johnson.

Baggies manager Tony Mowbray refused to be downcast but admitted top-flight survival may now depend on other sides being off-colour.

“There’s no negativity, we’re working very hard as a group of players,” said Mowbray.

“There’s no points target, every game we just try and compete. We’ll win some games, I think, especially at home. Will we win enough? I don’t know. We have some teams in the bottom half coming up and those are the days that will probably define our season.”

FULHAM (4-4-2): Schwarzer 7, Pantsil 7, Hughes 7, Hangeland 8, Konchesky 6, Davies 6, Murphy 8 (Dacourt 85, 5), Etuhu 7, Dempsey 6, Johnson 7 (Kamara 80, 5), Zamora 7 (Nevland 80, 5).

Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Gray, Kallio, Baird.

WEST BROM (4-4-2): Carson 7, Zuiverloon 6, Meite 6, Barnett 5, Robinson 6, Morrison 6 (Menseguez 77, 5), Koren 6, Borja Valero 5, Filipe Teixeira 5 (Brunt 50, 6), Fortune 6 (Bednar 81, 5), Simpson 5.

Subs Not Used: Kiely, Cech, Moore, Martis.

REFEREE: Martin Atkinson 7: Correctly turned down a penalty appeal from Andy Johnson and generally got things right.

MATCH RATING: *** Fulham played with their customary polish on home soil, but West Brom were dire.