Source: Daily_Mail
Mark Hughes hails Bobby dazzler and targets top 10 Premier League finish for Fulham
Fulham manager Mark Hughes hailed the 3-0 victory over Blackpool as the perfect day for Bobby Zamora and an ideal platform for his side to secure a top 10 finish this season. [LNB]The 30-year-old striker had been a doubt due to illness in the build-up to the clash but made his mark with a first-half double in westLondon. [LNB] Pointing to a strong finish: Hughes targets top 10[LNB]Zamora smashed home a 23rd-minute opener after a wayward James Beattie pass for his first goal since August, also against Blackpool, and did not have to wait long for his second as he nodded in a Damien Duff free-kick five minutes later. [LNB]Dickson Etuhu wrapped up the points in the 72nd minute, tapping home from close range to secure Fulham's fifth home win in six matches. [LNB]Hughes believes such form is an indication of the spirit within the Cottagers' squad and hailed Zamora's contribution after his return from a lengthy lay-off with a broken leg. [LNB]'Bobby had been under the weather, he just had a head cold and had not been sleeping particularly well,' he said. [LNB]'He just wasn't quite as lively during the week as he normally is.[LNB] Heads we win: Zamora (second right) heads home his second goal[LNB]'Normally you hear Bobby before you seem him so he was a little bit quiet but I thought this was the perfect game for him, to be honest. [LNB]'I thought that he got over the last hurdle in his head after the injury in terms of starting games and really, in fairness, I couldn't have hoped for a better impact from him. [LNB]'Straight from the off he showed qualities that we have missed and lacked for many games this season.[LNB]'For him to come in - the way he is thinking about his game and coming back from a serious injury - it was a perfect day for him.' [LNB]The victory propels Fulham into the top half of the table, which Hughes said reinforced his view that the Londoners are a top-10 side. [LNB] Vital role: Zamora (centre) adds firepower as Fulham draw clear of the relegation scrap[LNB]'We've never wavered from that view and obviously tonight we're in that position," he added. [LNB]'We're something like three points from seventh. It's possible we can really establish ourselves from now until the end of the season in that top half. [LNB]'And that's what we anticipated we would do this season and obviously we lost key personnel, Bobby being the main one in that respect, and that hampered our season.[LNB] 'But we've been really, really strong and accomplished in the second half of the season, which I knew we would be. [LNB]'The players are really progressing as a group. [LNB]'They are really receptive and really getting the job at the moment. And that's all you can ask.' [LNB]This is how you do it: Holloway (left) left frustrated at Fulham[LNB]While Fulham's victory has ushered them away from relegation trouble, counterparts Blackpool continue to linger dangerously close to the precipice. [LNB]Manager Ian Holloway has promised to 'crack the whip' when his side get back to Lancashire and does not want his players' heads to drop again again during the vital the run-in. [LNB]'I've told them all to go away and watch how we got promoted last year and the goals we've scored this year and tell me we are a bad side,' he said. [LNB]'I've asked them to do that because we need to remain totally positive. [LNB]'We can have probably five defeats and two victories and we'd still up, I believe.[LNB] 'Whether I'm right or wrong, you asked me about it and 39 points might keep us up. [LNB]'If we do that it'll be a fantastic achievement, better than last year. [LNB] 'And that's the truth because really, truthfully speaking, the quality that the other people have got, the money that they are paying is quite frightening. [LNB]'My lads' spirit has got us there. Their ability has helped us this year and after we made the odd mistake it looked like their body language was horrible today. [LNB]'It's not very nice when you reflect on the goals we have let in. [LNB]'You can have the ball and pass it around, but it is all about putting it in the white thing at one end and not letting it in the white thing at your end.[LNB]'Unfortunately we didn't do that very well today.'[LNB] Fulham 3 Blackpool 0: Bobby's on the beat as Zamora fires double at the Cottage LIVE: City hammer Sunderland for five and Fulham ease past Blackpool - as it happenedPICTURE SPECIAL: That's Bad! Fulham fans left stunned as club unveil Jackson statue All the latest Fulham FC news, features and opinionAll the latest Blackpool FC news, features and opinion[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: James Beattie, Ian Holloway, Bobby Zamora, Mark Hughes Places: London
