Source: Team_Talk
Fulham partnership pleases Jol
Fulham manager Martin Jol believes the strike partnership of Bobby Zamora and Andrew Johnson can shoot the Cottagers to success this season.[LNB] The pair both netted in the west Londoners' comfortable 4-0 Europa League second qualifying round defeat of Northern Irish outfit Crusaders on Thursday night, which sealed a 7-1 aggregate success.[LNB]Zamora and Johnson worked well in tandem throughout the clash and have impressed in the Whites' European campaign.[LNB]The duo struggled last season with injuries and only netted 10 goals between them in all competitions, but Jol has backed them to come to the fore this campaign.[LNB]"Even if you have got a tough defence you know you can score goals," he said.[LNB]"Last year Bobby was of course injured and Andy was the same, he only had 16 starts.[LNB]"So we had some trouble with injuries and luckily enough we had [Clint] Dempsey and he was our top scorer[LNB]"I feel there is a lot more goals in Andy Johnson. Every game when I see him he is quick and he can score goals.[LNB]"I think he has scored three goals already and that is what you want, not the two goals last year.[LNB]"He was not satisfied and that was probably because of his injuries and now hopefully we can keep them fit.[LNB]"If you saw Bobby in the first half, if he is in the flow he is a very good target."[LNB]Goals from Damien Duff and Steve Sidwell complemented Zamora and Johnson's efforts and helped Fulham cruise into a third qualifying round tie with Croatian side RNK Split next week.[LNB]"You always want to play perfect football and of course the first half we started well," Jol said of his team's performance.[LNB]"The first half an hour I thought was good. Good movement, movement and everybody was involved.[LNB]"After that there were a few sloppy spells and that is not what you want.[LNB]"But the second half was okay and of course we had to substitute a few players because we have 17 or 18 players who want to be involved.[LNB]"Overall, if you saw the goals, for example, the first goal had many touches and the second goal was thanks to a Philippe Senderos pass.[LNB]"Then there was one from Damien Duff so each goal was scored totally differently. And the goal Bobby scored was probably the best one of the evening."[LNB]Jol named a strong-looking side heading into the clash but goalkeeper David Stockdale was a notable absentee from the bench.[LNB]Asked whether the Fulham number two was likely to head out on loan, the Dutchman said: "Yes, he is close but of course there is a little issue with the recall.[LNB]"We can't recall him if he is playing in the Premier League. Maybe there is a bit of space [for manoeuvre] but I don't want to talk about it...[LNB]"[If we cannot insert a release clause], then we have to put him in the Championship. But there is a possibility he could go to the Premier League."[LNB]Despite the 7-1 aggregate defeat, Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter lauded his side's performances in the two matches and put the result into perspective.[LNB]"I can't begin to tell you how proud we are," he said.[LNB]"We're a very small, part-time football club, only training two nights a week and playing on a Saturday.[LNB]"These guys have regular jobs and they have come and put in a great shift over the two legs.[LNB]"We didn't come away humiliated. We were up against Premier League superstars and boy did they give us a good performance.[LNB]"They knocked the ball about well, they're full of internationals and it is good to watch."
