Damien Duff (59 mins)
Bobby Zamora ((90 + 1 mins) mins)
own(Chris Baird) (3 mins)
Barclays Premier League
, Feb 21, 2010
Ground: Craven Cottage
, Kickoff: 15:00 , Att 21,758
Team news
Shorey back for Fulham Fulham defender Nicky Shorey will return for Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Birmingham City at Craven Cottage.
Shorey, on loan from Aston Villa, was ineligible for the 2-1 Europa League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk but will replace Stephen Kelly at left-back against the Blues.
Paul Konchesky could figure on the bench after recovering from a foot injury, but long-term casualties Kagisho Dikgacoi (ankle), Andrew Johnson, Clint Dempsey and John Pantsil (all knee) are out.
The Cottagers are nearing the end of a five-week period which has seen them play a match virtually every three days yet defy the workload by continuing to challenge for silverware on two fronts.
They have reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup while on Thursday night they humbled 2009 UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 in the first leg of their Europa League last 32 match.
But rather than complain about the fixture list, veteran stopper Mark Schwarzer is pleased the matches are arriving thick and fast.
"If you don't enjoy this as a footballer then when are you going to enjoy your football?" the Australian said.
"This is what it's all about, playing games, and playing in Europe and playing in the FA Cup and playing in the Premier League.
"It's the best life to have and I'm enjoying it, at the young and tender age of 37." Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has no fresh injury worries ahead of the clash.
McLeish is to keep faith with the 18 players on duty in last Saturday's FA Cup fifth round win over Derby at Pride Park.
The former Scotland boss has more midfield options after the arrival of Craig Gardner and Michel during the January transfer window.
He left out James McFadden and Sebastian Larsson for the previous league game at West Ham 10 days ago and brought in Gardner and Keith Fahey as the wide players.
Blues are occupying a top 10 spot in the Barclays Premier League and are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
They have struggled to attain their best form in recent games but the fighting spirit which has been their trademark has been to the fore.
City scored a last-gasp equaliser against Tottenham, rescued victory from the jaws of defeat with two late goals against Wolves and also came from behind to defeat Derby in the FA Cup.
Boss Alex McLeish said: "The players have done better than was expected and stood up as the expectation levels have grown and grown.
"They have responded to those expectations, the demands from fans and pundits.
"People say 'the bubble will burst' but they have been sensational, the spirit and the mentality, and I know what they have got in their locker.
"It is now about going on another run and challenging them to be even more consistent than they were in the first section of the season through until May.
"If they can do that, it will be a season to remember and we will try to take something in all the remaining games.
Fulham 2-1 Birmingham
Last modified 10:35 22/02/10
Daily Mirror match report by Neil McLeman
Bobby Zamora is not telling the Fulham fans to shut up anymore.
After the striker’s 15th goal of the season snatched an 89th-minute winner against Birmingham, the chant of “Bobby for England“ rang around Craven Cottage last night.
The only pity for the former West Ham forward, who has shown impeccable timing in his recent hot streak, is that he found the net from a free kick only after Fabio Capello had left his seat in the Main Stand.
The 29-year-old has now scored 10 goals in 15 appearances - including four in his last four - since telling the Fulham faithful to “f****** shut your mouths“ after netting against Sunderland back in December.
It is his highest ever tally in the Premier League - and his best since he scored 32 for Brighton in the old Division Two back in 2000-01.
“I know the fans were chanting Bob’s name for England and that’s quite right, that’s how it should be,” said manager Roy Hodgson.
“It’s about confidence. Last year he did all the things we wanted him to do but wasn't lucky in front of goal. This year he’s added the goals to his good play which is fortunate because the man who was getting the goals, Andy Johnson, has not been available.”
Zamora has certainly added goals to his link-up play this term but it is surely too late to take the place of Emile Heskey this summer.
But Birmingham boss Alex McLeish, a former Scotland centre-half, said: “Bobby Zamora was a thorn the whole day long - he was perhaps the difference.
“If Capello is looking for a certain type, and I know he saw Heskey as a guy who could help the other members of the team by bringing them into play without him being prolific, Zamora is as good as anybody I have seen at keeping that ball up there.”
Hodgson described this late victory as “remarkable“ following the hard-won Europa League win over Shakhtar Donestk - and going behind early on.
Just like against the Ukrainians, a Fulham player got on the scoresheet in the third minute. Unfortunately for Chris Baird, his bullet header into the top corner from a Lee Bowyer cross was past a bemused Mark Schwarzer.
Damien Duff drew Fulham level with a super striker in off the post after 59 minutes after a one-two with the outstanding Zoltan Gera.
Mark Schwarzer produced a stunning save to touch James McFadden’s drive onto the underside of the bar after 70 minutes to leave the stage set for Zamora. After his wonder winner against Shakhtar, this time he drove a left-footed free kick past a chaotic wall and Joe Hart.
“I would not put my keeper at fault,” said Alex McLeish after his 50th Premier League match.
“He has drilled it high into the top corner. I don’t think Joe even saw it until it was around the wall. There were a lot of bodies out there.”
Birmingham have now lost seven away league games this season - and five in the capital.
“We have not had a good record in London but we should have had something today,” said the Scot.
“Both teams would say there were no where near their best but Fulham had a couple of players that made the difference. We are aspiring to that level.”
| Player rating out of ten | Player name | Substitution | Did they score? | Player's disciplinary record | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark Schwarzer | ||||
| 6 | Chris Baird |
|
|||
| 18 | Aaron Hughes | ||||
| 5 | Brede Hangeland | ||||
| 7 | Nicky Shorey | ||||
| 29 | Simon Davies(sub 82) |
|
|||
| 20 | Dickson Etuhu | ||||
| 13 | Danny Murphy(sub 90) |
|
|||
| 16 | Damien Duff |
|
|
||
| 11 | Zoltan Gera | ||||
| 25 | Bobby Zamora |
|
|||
| Substitutes | |||||
| 19 | Pascal Zuberbuhler | ||||
| 2 | Stephen Kelly | ||||
| 9 | Stefano Okaka | ||||
| 17 | Bjorn Helge Riise(sub 82) |
|
|||
| 26 | Chris Smalling(sub 90) |
|
|||
| 27 | Jonathan Greening | ||||
| 35 | David Elm | ||||
| Player rating out of ten | Player name | Did they score? | Player's disciplinary record | Substitution | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Joe Hart | ||||
| 2 | Stephen Carr | ||||
| 15 | Scott Dann | ||||
| 14 | Roger Johnson | ||||
| 6 | Liam Ridgewell | ||||
| 18 | Keith Fahey | ||||
| 4 | Lee Bowyer | ||||
| 12 | Barry Ferguson(sub 90) |
|
|||
| 7 | Sebastian Larsson(sub 67) |
|
|||
| 16 | James McFadden |
|
|||
| 10 | Cameron Jerome(sub 76) |
|
|||
| Substitutes | |||||
| 1 | Maik Taylor | ||||
| 9 | Kevin Phillips(sub 76) |
|
|||
| 11 | Christian Benitez | ||||
| 17 | Michel(sub 90) |
|
|||
| 21 | Stuart Parnaby | ||||
| 27 | Gregory Vignal | ||||
| 33 | Craig Gardner(sub 67) |
|
|||
| Team | Fulham | Birmingham |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | ||
| Shots on target | 7 | 6 |
| Shots off target | 3 | 5 |
| Corner | 1 | 3 |
| Fouls | 16 | 9 |
| Crosses | 9 | 17 |
