Source: Daily_Mail
FK Vetra 0 Fulham 3: Hodgson joy over Bobby dazzler after Europa League win
Roy Hodgson believes Bobby Zamora is starting to prove his critics wrong after the much-maligned striker fired Fulham towards the fourth qualifying round of the Europa League.
Zamora scored just four goals last season and came in for sustained criticism from fans. Last week, Hodgson agreed a £5million deal with Hull for the striker, only for Zamora to turn them down.
But the 28-year-old scored the first, won a penalty that Danny Murphy converted for the second and helped create the third for Seol Ki-Hyeon as Hodgson's side impressively swept aside their Lithuanian opponents.
It was a masterclass in forward play and Hodgson said: 'Bobby was outstanding. He had a lot of criticism last season, which comes when a striker doesn't score lots of goals and misses chances.
'But his link-up play with Andrew Johnson was outstanding and I couldn't be happier. He may be proving one or two people wrong and that's what good players should do.'
Zamora's performance was not the only good news for Hodgson as Brede Hangeland's appearance ensured he is cup-tied for European competitions until January and reduced the chances of a £15m move to Arsenal.
Fulham were made to work hard by their hosts, though, and only when Zamora turned Algis Jankauskas and fired into the bottom corner just before half-time did the game open up.
It was finished as a contest when Jankauskas was penalised for holding Zamora's shirt, with Murphy scoring the spot-kick. The second leg at Craven Cottage next Thursday should be little more than a formality, especially after Seol cut inside and drilled home with six minutes left.
