Source: Daily_Mail
Fulham 2 Birmingham 1: Capello's misses Zamora's big World Cup hint
The chants of 'Bobby for England' are getting louder. [LNB]The suggestion that Fulham striker Bobby Zamora could be a contender for Fabio Capello's England World Cup squad sounded faintly ridiculous in December, but nobody was laughing after he scored the winner against Birmingham.[LNB]It was just a shame that Capello, who was watching at Craven Cottage, had chosen to leave five minutes earlier. [LNB] Match-winner: Zamora winds up for the free-kick in injury time that ultimately seals the points for Fulham [LNB]Match Facts Fulham Mark Schwarzer, Brede Hangeland, Chris Baird, Nicky Shorey, Aaron Hughes, Zoltan Gera, Danny Murphy (Chris Smalling, 90), Damien Duff, Dickson Etuhu, Simon Davies (Bjorn Helge Riise, 83), Bobby Zamora.[LNB]Birmingham City Joe Hart, Stephen Carr, Liam Ridgewell, Roger Johnson, Scott Dann, Lee Bowyer, Sebastian Larsson (Craig Gardner, 68), Barry Ferguson, Keith Fahey, Cameron Jerome (Kevin Phillips, 77), James McFadden.[LNB]Fulham manager Roy Hodgson said he hadn't spoken to Capello sincebefore Christmas, but added: 'I've got every faith in his judgment and,if he believes Bobby can do a job for him, I am sure he'll take him. [LNB]'I'm sure that he will have gone away realising that, in BobbyZamora, Fulham have a good player. Whether that is something for him aswell only he knows. [LNB]'For me he's performing like a true target-playing centre forwardwho brings his team-mates into the game and holds the ball up very wellbut, of course, because he's a skilful player, he's going to scoregoals.' [LNB]It's now 15 in 33 games this season for 29-year-old Zamora, who hasnot enjoyed such a rich vein of form since 2001-02, when he scored 32in 46 for League One side Brighton. [LNB]It was a curling free-kick delivered with the inside of his leftfoot in the final minute after Stephen Carr had barged down Zoltan Gerajust outside the penalty area. [LNB] Come and get me, Fabio: Zamora is mobbed by his team-mates after clinching all three points for Fulham [LNB]Birmingham goalkeeper Joe Hart, another player contending for aplace in the England World Cup squad, might have done better, but hisclub manager, Alex McLeish, insisted he was not at fault. [LNB]Parity: Midfielder Damien Duff scored a beautifully crafted equaliser [LNB]McLeish said: 'Bobby Zamora was a thorn in our side the whole daylong. He caused us a lot of problems and was perhaps the difference. [LNB]'If Fabio Capello is looking for a certain type of player - and Iknow he saw Emile Heskey as a guy who could help the other members ofthe team by bringing them into play without him being prolific - Zamorais as good as anybody I have seen at keeping that ball up there.' [LNB]Fulham had not conceded a goal in the Barclays Premier League forfive hours and 16 minutes going into the match, but it took Chris Bairdjust another 131 seconds to head a Lee Bowyer cross into his own netoff the inside of the crossbar. [LNB]Hart blocked a right-foot volley from Simon Davies after nineminutes, then Gera guided a long-range pass from Baird into Davies'spath with half an hour gone, only for the Wales midfielder to directanother tame effort into the arms of the Birmingham goalkeeper. [LNB]But the breakthrough for Fulham finally came after 59 minutes. [LNB]Keen interest: Fabio Capello was watching [LNB]Damien Duff played a lovely one-two with Gera - who excelled in thesecond striker role - cut in from the right, scampered across the edgeof the penalty area and fired a powerful left-foot shot into the topleft-hand corner of Hart's net. [LNB]Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni, who was sitting next to fellow Italian Capel lo, must have been impressed. [LNB]Birmingham's best chance to break their London hoodoo - they havelost all five of their Premier League matches in the capital thisseason - came after 70 minutes. [LNB]However, a vital fingertip from Villa keeper Mark Schwarzer prevented James McFadden's left-foot strike from crossing the line. [LNB] Al Fayed forced to apologise after Shakhtar were refused entry to HarrodsEuropean glory? Fulham concentrating on FA Cup, insists Aaron HughesMcLeish happy to extend Birmingham stay... if he has last word on transfers Birmingham boss Alex McLeish in new contract talksBIRMINGHAM CITY FC
