Zamora back to help Fulham beat Burnley

Feb 10, 2010 - 2:03 AM By JAMES PIERCY STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Bobby Zamora scored his 12th of the season as Fulham took another giant step towards Premier League safety with a 3-0 win over Burnley at Craven Cottage on Tuesday.

Zamora, back in the Fulham side after illness, scored the third goal as Burnley again failed to make any impression away from their Turf Moor citadel.

Burnley are back in trouble near the foot of the table, their latest setback undermining much of the good work achieved in beating West Ham at home last weekend.

Fulham were never seriously threatened once they had taken the lead in the 23rd minute with Danny Murphy's fourth league goal.

Burnley were furious that Fulham's first two goals were allowed to stand when replays showed offside might have been given in each case.

David Elm appeared to have strayed offside when he headed Nick Shorey's cross into Murphy's path.

Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen made a great save from Dickson Etuhu soon afterwards before Elm got the Fulham second in the 31st minute.

Zamora's shot was saved by Jensen but Elm put in the rebound with appeals for offside again waved away.

Tyrone Mears almost pulled a goal back with a 25-yard free-kick which thumped against the Fulham bar but Jensen did well at the other end to keep out a Zamora shot.

England candidate Zamora was not to be denied and in the 54th minute his 30-yard free-kick somehow eluded Jensen for a soft third.

Zamora missed a good chance late on to make it 4-0 and had he done so it would have been no more than Fulham deserved.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson was delighted with his team's seventh point in a week from three profitable matches.

Hodgson said: "We have had a very good week. I thought we were positive from the first whistle to the last and were good value for our victory.

"In our previous two matches we had some hairy moments but tonight we looked solid and there were no scares.

"I think there are now ten or 12 teams who are involved in a relegation fight or who might think they are and it is such a nice feeling to be so many points clear of trouble."

Burnley manager Brian Laws remained defiant after a disappointing performance in which his team were always second best.

Laws said: "It's a psychological thing. We have to work to change the mind-set. Too many players don't produce their best when we go away and that needs changing.

"We will succeed in this. But there are plenty of games left so there is no panic among any of us.

"We know what we have to achieve to stay in the Premier League and we will be working very hard over the remainder of the season to make sure we stay up."