Source: Daily_Mail
Roy Hodgson insists Fulham fans were right to boo 'mercenary' Bullard
Roy Hodgson defended Fulham fans' right to boo Jimmy Bullard as the Hull midfielder faced his former club in the Tigers' 2-0 victory at the KC Stadium on Saturday. [LNB]Bullard opted to leave Craven Cottage in January 2009 for a longer-term contract at Hull, who paid £5million for his services. [LNB]The 31-year-old's time on Humberside has been marred by two serious knee injuries but he recovered in time for the Barclays Premier League run-in as Hull look to preserve their top-flight status. [LNB] Spot on! Bullard scores a penalty as Hull sink Fulham 2-0 at the KC Stadium [LNB]And Bullard silenced the jeers of the visiting fans with an early penalty before Craig Fagan sealed victory three minutes into the second half. [LNB]Hodgson said: 'You've got to remember the Fulham fans loved Jimmy Bullard and they weren't very happy when he refused to sign a new contract with Fulham and went to Hull for an awful lot more money so I don't think I can really criticise them. [LNB]Flying high: Bullard celebrates scoring against his old club [LNB]'Jimmy knew what he was doing. I don't think he came up here to better his football, he came up here because there was a lot more money on offer, and that's what our fans choose to remind him of from time to time. I don't expect Fulham fans to be anything other than disappointed in him. [LNB]'But Jimmy had the last laugh because he scored the penalty that got his team the victory so I don't think he'll be losing any sleep over it.' [LNB]For Hull boss Iain Dowie it was three points in his first home match and ended a run of five successive defeats. [LNB]The victory moved the Tigers level on 27 points with 17th-placed West Ham, having played a game fewer, and Dowie hopes the whole club's belief has been bolstered by the win. [LNB]'One swallow doesn't make a summer but it certainly gives us a fighting chance with West Ham getting beaten,' he said.[LNB]'We've just got to take care of our business. The most important thing was the result but the manner of the performance gives me added confidence.'[LNB]Dowie also paid tribute to the Hull fans, saying: 'Every time I've been here, it's a special atmosphere. The people of East Yorkshire are passionate about their football, they're passionate about their sport, they want people to show desire and hunger. [LNB] Three points: Hull are now level on points with fellow strugglers West Ham [LNB]'And when we pressed them in the first half, the noise in the stadium was magnificent. They got a display they deserve.' [LNB]Hodgsonis no stranger to relegation battles having kept Fulham up on the finalday of the season in 2008. They have since gone from strength tostrength, finishing seventh last term, and on Thursday they will takeon Wolfsburg in the Europa League quarter-finals. [LNB] It isalso familiar territory for Hull after their narrow escape last season,and Hodgson would not be surprised to see the Tigers in the PremierLeague again next season. [LNB]'They have a very aggressivestyle of play, they have some very strong players in the team, the twocentre-backs, the forwards are very strong at holding the ball up, so Ithink the way they play will cause many teams problems,' he added. [LNB]'Ifthey continue to show the same fighting spirit, determination, the willto win and the will to hold on to leads, then I think they'll getpoints and there's no reason why they can't stay up just in the sameway as we did.' [LNB] Hull 2 Fulham 0: Bullard has last laugh as he puts the boot into CottagersPiers Morgan: My 10-point solution to Arsene Wenger's Mission: ImpossibleFULHAM FC
