Zamora: 'I've silenced the doubters'

Bobby Zamora yesterday claimed he had “rubbed their noses it" when describing the Fulham fans who abused him earlier this season.

And tonight the 15-goal striker wants to inflict similar treatment on World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro.

Roy Hodgson’s side suffered their worst ever defeat in Europe when they lost 3-1 to Juventus in the first leg last week.

But an early goal in the early kick-off at Craven Cottage tonight will give Fulham hope of the biggest win in their history in their 48th game of a long season.

Zamora is the man most likely to find the net after a scoring streak which has seen him touted for England's World Cup squad.

Back in December he told his own fans to “f****** shut your mouths" after he scored against Sunderland. But now those same fans are chanting “Bobby for England" at the born-again forward.

“I have probably turned a few people and just rubbed their noses in it,” he said. “It’s nice to go out and score a goal and go out and enjoy it.

“I suppose there’s been a bit of tit for tat, some fans have given me a bit of abuse and I suppose I told them in a few terms. They’ve had their go and I’ve had mine, I suppose, and we just have to move on.

“But now I feel confident and feel I can score in every game. If I don’t score, I feel I can set somebody else up for a chance, and that’s my job.”

The Italian job to stop him tonight belongs to Fabio Cannavaro, his country’s most capped player after 132 appearances.

But the 29-year-old Zamora insisted 36-year-old Cannavaro is not the same speedy player of his youth. “He doesn’t want to be running in the channels,” claimed the former Brighton striker.

“He’s a bit older now, he wants  to fight, he wants to pull, he wants to push you, so I am sure I’ll try and make him run in those channels and turn him the other way.”

Zamora also admitted he had learned from watching Inter Milan beat Chelsea in the Champions League, especially Didier Drogba getting a late red card.

“Italian defenders are definitely more hands on,” he continued. “A lot of their game is very tactical, it’s an art in it’s own.

“I’m sure they’ll be doing exactly the same to us as Inter did to Chelsea, trying to frustrate and trying to kill time, but the gaffer has said to us that we’ve got to keep our heads, get on to the referee and make sure he knows that they’re trying to waste time.”

Former Inter Milan coach Hodgson admitted: “We’ve got to be careful, there might be a situation in this game as well, if it becomes a fierce contest, where players will be fouled or players will be provoked.”

Fulham have never lost at home in Europe but have not won in five games now and will give Brede Hangeland a late fitness test after his chest injury at Old Trafford. Captain Danny Murphy and Jonathan Greening are both suspended.

 Juventus have more problems with injuries to Gianluigi Buffon and Alex Manninger meaning third-choice goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti will play tonight.

In his first competitive match in two years on Sunday, the 39-year-old let in three goals against bottom club Siena after Juventus had scored three times in the first ten minutes. Defenders Nicolas Legrottaglie, Giorgio Chiellini and Martin Caceres will also be out injured.

But Hodgson said: “I look at their back four and you’ve got two World Cup winners in there and an experienced goalkeeper. I don’t see a defensively weak team there at all.”