Fulham moved into the top half of the Premier League courtesy of a 3-0 win over Blackpool.
Cottagers rise to top half of the table with thrilling performance
Bobby Zamora scored a brace as Fulham moved into the top half of the Premier League courtesy of a 3-0 win over Blackpool.
The Cottagers were ahead on 23 minutes as Zamora took advantage of a misplaced James Beattie pass, showing great pace and composure in breaking the deadlock.
And the England international had his second just five minutes later as he glanced in a Damien Duff free-kick after Stephen Crainey had fouled on the flank.
Blackpool had large spells of possession, but failed to create much in the final third with Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer barely troubled throughout.
The Cottagers then put the game beyond doubt as Dickson Etuhu fired home from close range on 72 minutes after a pull-back from Brede Hangeland.
After a surprisingly strong first half to their debut Premier League campaign, Blackpool now sit just one point above safety in a crowded relegation scrap.
Unveiling
Prior to the game, Mohamed Al Fayed unveiled the much-discussed statue of pop icon Michael Jackson, who was a close friend of the Fulham chairman before his death in 2009.
Heading into the 100th league meeting between the pair, the hosts were boosted by Zamora's recovery from illness and Steve Sidwell's return to the squad after a knee injury.
Blackpool manager Ian Holloway made two changes to the side that drew 2-2 at Blackburn a fortnight ago, with Beattie and Brett Ormerod replacing Luke Varney and Jason Puncheon in the starting line-up.
It was the home side who controlled the opening proceedings, with Moussa Dembele regularly testing Alex Baptiste down the left and skipper Danny Murphy seeing a low drive blocked.
Charlie Adam blazed over Blackpool's first chance in the ninth minute, although his 35-yard effort never looked like it would add to his nine-goal haul this season.
Despite the midfielder's shot, it was Fulham who were looking the most dangerous and hit the post in the 16th minute.
Carlos Salcido's left-wing cross was headed back by Zamora to Dembele, whose superb lay-off was met by an equally well-struck shot by Duff that goalkeeper Richard Kingson did well to tip onto the woodwork.
Fulham again came close to breaking the deadlock five minutes later but Kingson was on hand to block another drilled shot, this time the impressive Chris Baird was the man denied.
However, the Ghana international could do nothing to prevent Zamora's smashed drive in the 23rd minute as he latched onto Beattie's poor back-pass and ran clear before thumping home.
Fulham continued to threaten and Zamora netted his second of the afternoon five minutes later.
The England international out-leaped Craig Cathcart in the six-yard box to nod in Duff's whipped free-kick, to the delight of the home faithful.
However, the crowd's exuberance was tempered somewhat in the play that followed as the visitors began to get a foothold in the game and started to open up the Fulham defence.
Penalty appeal
After thwarting the visitors, Fulham's calls for a 38th-minute penalty were waved away by referee Stuart Attwell, who deemed Stephen Crainey's slide on Duff hard but fair.
The pace of the game began to drop as half-time approached, but Blackpool came desperately close to reducing the deficit just before the break.
Ormerod beat Mark Schwarzer to Baptiste's long ball, but his goal-bound header was cleared off the line by former Southampton team-mate Baird.
The game livened up in the 57th minute, with Dembele's neat touch and turn followed up by a 20-yard drive that Cathcart did well to block.
Beattie came close to atoning for his earlier error, but his powerful shot clattered off the post.
The former England international was soon replaced as Holloway made wholesale changes in a bid to change the game.
Off came Beattie, Ormerod and Elliot Grandin to be replaced by Sergey Kornilenko, Varney and Puncheon.
And Holloway's move almost paid immediate dividends as Puncheon found space to test Schwarzer with a powerful 20-yard drive.
However, Fulham soon wrapped up the victory with their third of the afternoon through Etuhu.
Murphy's free-kick was thumped off the post by Clint Dempsey and the rebound was fired across goal by Brede Hangeland for Etuhu to net.
Having earlier taken off Zamora, the goal allowed manager Hughes to replace Murphy with Sidwell - making his first appearance since February.
Duff also soon departed to be replaced by Simon Davies, before Aaron Hughes and substitute Kornilenko clashed heads on the halfway line.
While the players received treatment, fans were treated to a Jackson tribute by a fan in the stands in what proved to be the last notable entertainment of the match.
| Fulham |
Team Statistics |
Blackpool |
| 3 |
Goals |
0 |
| 2 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 6 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
| 4 |
Shots off Target |
5 |
| 9 |
Blocked Shots |
7 |
| 4 |
Corners |
7 |
| 16 |
Fouls |
6 |
| 3 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 75.2 |
Passing Success |
85.9 |
| 24 |
Tackles |
23 |
| 70.8 |
Tackles Success |
69.6 |
| 34.3 |
Possession |
65.7 |
| 56.6 |
Territorial Advantage |
43.4 |
|
