Duff on song as Fulham star back — that’s Zamora

THERE may have been more attractive looking fixtures this weekend but there was an Italian whose attention was fully taken by the happenings at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.

With senior players Robbie Keane, Richard Dunne and Shay Given all struggling with injuries ahead of Ireland’s European Championship qualifier against Macedonia in Dublin on March 26, there is at last good news for Giovanni Trapattoni.

The 86-times capped Damien Duff has hit a rich vein of form for the west Londoners recently, scoring twice in their victory over Blackburn on Saturday, and will be key to Trapattoni’s hopes of capturing three points to keep the heat on Russia who head Group B on nine points from four games — two ahead of Ireland, Armenia and Slovakia.

Fulham boss Mark Hughes sang the Irishman’s praises after victory sent his side up to 11th in the Barclays Premier League.

“Damien Duff played excellently today, he got two goals and really carried his form on from the game against Man City,” Hughes said.

“We’re pleased, it was a difficult game from our point of view. We found it difficult to get the ball down and play our stuff and create the momentum that we normally create when we go up against opposition here.

“But that’s credit to Blackburn because they competed well all over the field of play and had a good physical presence with plenty of pace — so we had to be on our mettle today.”

Fulham twice saw a one-goal lead wiped out as Duff brought his tally for the season to five goals, before finally edging the game 3-2, with a late penalty from Bobby Zamora.

Fulham looked on course for a win after Duff’s 37th minute opener. However, a fortuitous deflected equaliser just before the break meant that the players went in a little deflated at half-time. But Hughes rallied his troops and sent them back out for the second period clearly determined to attack with purpose until the game was won.

Almost poetically, the match winner turned out to be Zamora. The forward, making just his second appearance after a lengthy injury spell, was introduced as a 70th-minute substitute into a physical game that looked tailor-made for him to make a difference.

And sure enough, after Grant Hanley obstructed Aaron Hughes in the box to give away a penalty, who should step up to take the spot kick but last season’s top scorer?

“I was so happy for him,” enthused team-mate Dickson Etuhu.

“He’s had a hard time, but he’s coming back now and looking strong. He just needs some games under his belt to get his confidence back and his sharpness. It’s like having a new signing.”

The Fulham midfielder added that his side are now looking at breaking into the top half of the Premier League.

He said: “We’re just looking up — not worrying about 40 points or anything. We know we’re a better team than where we are in the table, we just need to keep working hard, doing what the gaffer and the coaching staff tell us, and then I’m sure we’ll finish a lot higher.”