A first-half header from Bobby Zamora was enough to seal all three points for Fulham at home to Sunderland.

The striker was a handful for the Black Cats defence all game and got his name on the scoresheet when he got in front of Michael Turner to head past Marton Fulop after John Pantsil’s had crossed from the right with just five minutes on the clock.

Zamora could have made it two when he got the better of Turner in the air once more to meet Paul Konchesky’s cross from the left only to see his header come back off the bar.

Sunderland, who were dismal in the first half, came out fighting in the second period and should have equalised when Kenwyne Jones latched onto a poor Konchesky backpass but his effort was saved by Mark Schwarzer.

The visitors continued to press for the equaliser and had Fulham on the back foot for much of the half but not even top scorer Darren Bent could muster a goal.

Steed Malbranque, still jeered by home fans after leaving the club in 2006, had the game’s first chance when he was found by Lorik Cana after the midfielder robbed Paul Konchesky and slipped the ball through – but Schwarzer was equal to the finish.

Volatile

Then came Zamora’s moment. Damien Duff laid the ball back to Pantsil on the right flank and when the ball came over Zamora zipped in front of Phil Bardsley to head home.

It was Zamora’s sixth of the season and sparked a volatile celebration. He told his critics to “shut up” and lifted his finger up to his lips after pushing team-mate Duff in the chest.

Sunderland’s poor start also included a booking for Kieran Richardson, triggering a suspension as it was his fifth of a season where he has already been banned following a red card.

Erik Nevland also picked up a yellow card for sliding into the back of Anton Ferdinand’s calves when the Sunderland defender was shielding the ball out of play.

It led to Ferdinand being replaced by Nyron Nosworthy, with the substitute fouling Zamora with his first act and Clint Dempsey sending the free-kick just over the crossbar.

USA international Dempsey, who England will be facing at the World Cup, also went wide when Zamora had beaten Turner to flick on inside the penalty area.

Zamora got close to a second goal when he glanced on Jonathan Greening’s corner – but the effort went wide of the post – and he also headed against the bar from Konchesky’s cross.

Blasted over

Nevland was guilty of one of the misses of the season before the break when Zamora found him in the six-yard area from Dempsey’s lob into the danger zone.

Marton Fulop saved the first effort and Nevland blasted over the rebound with the goal at his mercy.

Fabio Capello’s men will have to be wary of Dempsey’s shoot-on-sight policy, with the attacking-midfielder firing wide just after the restart.

At the other end, Konchesky’s under-hit back pass presented a chance for Kenwyne Jones to score but the Trinidad and Tobago forward had his finish saved by Schwarzer.

The visitors got even closer to an equaliser when Darren Bent met Richardson’s cross with a first-time volley that flew just wide.

Former Tottenham striker Bent also flashed wildly over the crossbar after Fulham failed to deal with a straightforward cross from Andy Reid.

Bolo Zenden came on for Sunderland and Schwarzer had to save his long-range effort before the end.

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Roy Hodgson praised Bobby Zamora after his match-winning display for Fulham against Sunderland at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

The striker nodded the only goal of the game in the fifth minute and was a constant thorn in the Black Cats’ side throughout the entire game.

The former Tottenham man has his fair share of critics – including some Fulham fans – but his value to the Cottagers has never been under-rated by Hodgson.

The Fulham boss was delighted with his side’s first-half showing but thought the service to the frontmen in the second period was disappointing.

“The first half he was magnificent, second half I don’t think he got the service and even then I thought he did very well and he was a thorn in the side of the Sunderland centre-backs,” Hodgson told Sky Sports.

“But I don’t think we got the ball up to him and Erik Nevland anywhere near as much in the second half.

Fantastic

“But his overall performance was fantastic. I am extremely pleased to see him score a goal and he also hit the crossbar and I thought his performance was good throughout.”

With Danny Murphy returning from injury on Thursday against CSKA Sofia, although the skipper was on the bench against Sunderland, Hodgson revealed that the club’s injury situation was brightening up.

“We are really pleased, we are also very pleased that Simon Davies, Danny Murphy, we don’t think Andy Johnson and Jo (Diomansy) Kamara are too far away, these are very reassuring things to have in my back pocket going into the New Year,” he added.

“It will be tough, it’s just nice to have some margin between the bottom clubs especially as we go to Birmingham, have United at home, Tottenham and Chelsea (coming up), they are tough games.”

Burnley 11/8, Fulham 15/8, Draw 12/5

Steve Bruce was pleased with his Sunderland side’s response in the second half even though it was not enough to stop them losing 1-0 at Fulham.

The Black Cats were thoroughly outplayed in the opening 45 minutes and were lucky to go in at the break just the one goal behind after Bobby Zamora had given the hosts a fifth-minute lead.

However Sunderland came out fighting in the second period and with some better finishing could certainly have got something out of the game.

In the end Fulham held on to claim the three points, meaning Sunderland are yet to win away since the opening day success at Bolton.

“We were certainly better, especially second half,” Bruce told Sky Sports.

“Second half we have had a right good go at it. We had the best chances in the game but obviously didn’t take them. We lacked that bit of quality.

“We all know that the first goal, especially in the Premier League, is massive. It was a disappointing way to lose for me because the goal is a soft one, we haven’t done enough and we should be defending better than that.

Problems

“We were all at sea and Anton’s (Ferdinand) twisted his ankle and that hasn’t helped things. To be fair Zamora played very, very well against us and caused us a few problems in the first half so we have to take our hat off to them.

“Second half was a completely different story. We have looked for a response, got it and might have done enough to get something out of the game.

“The first half we just didn’t get started that’s obviously not good enough. It’s something we have to analyse and do something about and try and arrest this slump away from home because it’s in danger of ruining our season.”

Bruce also highlighted that his side could not rely on Darren Bent to score all their goals after the striker missed two half chances at Craven Cottage.

“We have had two or three really good opportunities but we can’t keep relying on Benty to score us a goal,” he added.

“So someone else has got to come to the party. But we struggled today in front of goal and that bit of quality unfortunately missed our chances.”

Sunderland 4/6, Draw 13/5, Portsmouth 9/2

Fulham kept their Europa League dreams alive with a narrow 1-0 victory over CSKA Moscow at Craven Cottage.

Todor Timonov hit the crossbar for the visitors with a long range effort on five minutes before Zolten Gera won a penalty for the Cottagers soon afterwards after being felled by Ivan Ivanov in the box.

But Danny Murphy, on his return from several weeks out through injury, skied the resulting spot kick well over.

But Gera put the Cottagers ahead after 14 minutes when nodding home from Bjorn Helge Riise’s cross from the right.

In the second period, CSKA came far more into the game and substitute Damien Duff had to clear fellow substitute Kosta Yanev’s shot off the line with ten minutes to play.

Yanez then headed just wide with five minutes to go as the Cottagers held on for the vital win.

It means Roy Hodgson’s side must now win in Basle in their last group game to progress into the last 32 of the competition.

More to follow….

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Sam Allardyce has confirmed he will be back in charge of Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

The Rovers chief underwent an angioplasty procedure last month, and has been recuperating at home.

Allardyce has missed league games against Bolton, Fulham and Stoke, whilst he was also unable to attend as his side won their Carling Cup quarter-final against Chelsea on penalties on Wednesday night.

Although the Rovers boss will be in the stands, rather than on the touchline against Liverpool, he is looking forward to returning to the helm.

“I will be up in the stand out of the way, and guiding it from there – I will be linked up and having some input, I will also speak to the lads before the game,” Allardyce confirmed to Sky Sports News.

“It is an unexpected situation what has happened, and a bit of a traumatic experience but the specialists are saying I can move back into there now and get on with the job I love doing and I am looking forward to seeing the lads.”

He was delighted to see his side make the Carling Cup semi-finals in his absence.

“Hopefully it will spur us on and through to January so we can look forward to the semi-finals as we are just two games away from Wembley,” he said.

The Blackburn boss does admit he needs to take better care of himself.

“There is obviously some greater care I will have to start doing and taking better care of myself,” he said.

“It is difficult but I will keep going for regular testing like I have done.

“A little more exercise when possible and go week by week and he said I should be fully recovered in two or three weeks.”

Allardyce is very grateful for all the messages of goodwill he has received over the last few weeks.

“I was overwhelmed with the amount of well wishers and I would like to thank them publicly and on camera as it is impossible for me to get back to everyone,” he stated.

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