Zamora goal seals points for Fulham

Aug 15, 2009 - 5:55 PM By ALEX CROOK STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Roy Hodgson revealed Damien Duff is on the verge of becoming a Fulham player after his side's 1-0 win over crisis club Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Fulham have agreed a four million pounds fee with Newcastle for the Republic of Ireland winger and manager Hodgson expects the transfer to be completed on Monday.

Hodgson said: "Newcastle and Fulham are in agreement on the transfer price and personal terms have got to be discussed. That will be done on Monday.

"Damien has travelled down to south west London to have a medical so hopefully that will go well and he will be joining us."

Prospective new Portsmouth owner Sulamain Al Fahim flew in to see Bobby Zamora give Hodgson's side an opening day victory.

Al Fahim did not arrive at Fratton Park until ten minutes after kick-off having jetted in straight from New York on Saturday morning.

The Dubai billionaire took his seat in the director's box just in time to see Zamora's fortuitous 13th minute winner. Clint Dempsey took aim from 25 yards but the American's low shot was heading straight into David James' arms before the ball struck Zamora and trickled into the bottom right corner.

Zamora would have added a second moments later but for a fine fingertip save from James to turn the former West Ham striker's close-range header over the crossbar.

It took until the 24th minute for Pompey to test Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer when new French signing Frederic Piquionne turned neatly on the by-line before putting a snap shot into the Australian's arms.

The home side are facing the prospect of becoming the first Premier League side to go into administration if Al Fahim's stuttering takeover bid fails to go through.

Pompey should have been level on the half hour when Niko Kranjcar whipped in an inviting right wing corner but the unmarked Nadir Belhadj somehow failed to make contact with an attempted diving header.

Maybe Andy Johnson was feeling sorry for the home fans when he passed up a golden chance to make it 2-0 midway through the second half, blazing over the crossbar after being left totally free eight yards out.

Portsmouth boss Paul Hart brought on strikers Kanu and David Nugent in a desperate bid to snatch a point. Younes Kaboul's header two yards wide from a late Belhadj corner was the closest the hosts came to equalising as Schwarzer enjoyed a relatively untroubled afternoon.

Hart afterwards pleaded with Al Fahim to rush through the completion of the takeover to allow him to strengthen Pompey's depleted squad. He said: "We probably need another four or five players. As we sit here today there is no money to spend. That is where we go from but it could improve.

"The situation needs to be sorted for the good of the football club. I think that goes without saying."