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Andrew Dillon at SunSport |
Fulham 2 Hull City 0
FULHAM was the setting for two of football's rarest events last night.
Jimmy Bullard kicked a ball after nine months out with a second major knee injury - and Bobby Zamora scored a goal.
Wonders never cease at Craven Cottage although there was little else to marvel over on an evening Fulham celebrated their 130th anniversary.
Zamora had perhaps his best performance in a Cottagers shirt - scoring one and setting up Diomansy Kamara for the second.
But Italian giants Roma will provide a much sterner test in the Europa League come Thursday night.
Zamora scored Fulham's first goal of the season way back on July 30 in a European qualifying tie in Lithuania but it hardly opened the floodgates.
He maintains goals are not the main part of his game and last night he displayed his versatility that was pleasing to watch yet frustrating for the fans who want to see it more often.
Zamora has scored two Premier League goals now this season - as many in the whole of the last campaign.
His smart 43rd-minute header, when Damien Duff's long-range strike was parried, lifted his team's mood.
And Kamara added No 2 in the second half.
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson said: "Bobby wants to score more goals, I just want results. If you could tell me I could win every game 1-0 from now on but Bobby didn't score another goal I'd be happy.
"I'm delighted he scored but he's also an influential member of the team, holding up the ball and being our target, he brings people into the match.
"He scored one, made one and brought three or four good saves out of the keeper."
Zamora turned down a £5million move to Hull in the summer - and his display ensured the Tigers remain in the bottom three.
Former Fulham midfielder Bullard could not resist temptation and jumped ship for a double-your-money £40,000-a-week deal at the KC Stadium in January.
Having battled back from another horrific knee problem, he came off the bench after 58 minutes.
Booed from his introduction, bundled off the ball on his very first touch and heckled throughout, it was not a warm welcome back.
He was further humbled when Fulham scored their second in the 64th minute when Zamora squared the ball for Kamara to ram home.
However, victory came at a cost as skipper Danny Murphy joined Andy Johnson on the treatment table with a knee injury.
The only thing Hull are threatening to do is go down - like the beachball at Sunderland.
Tigers boss Phil Brown said: "Jimmy Bullard came on with a responsibility to make us tick but it was too far gone for that.
"But he is the sort of character you want around in a position like this."
STAR MAN: BOBBY ZAMORA (Fulham)
FULHAM: Schwarzer 6, Pantsil 6, Hughes 6, Hangeland 7, Konchesky 6, Duff 7 (Gera 5), Murphy 6 (Greening 6), Baird 6, Dempsey 6, Zamora 8, Kamara 7 (Nevland 5).
Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Kelly, Riise, Smalling.
Booked: Konchesky.
HULL: Myhill 6, McShane 6, Sonko 7, Kilbane 6, Dawson 6, Zayatte 6, Ghilas 5 (Bullard 5), Marney 5, Geovanni 5, Hunt 5 (Altidore 5), Vennegoor of Hesselink 5 (Mendy 5).
Subs Not Used: Warner, Halmosi, Mouyokolo, Olofinjana.
Booked: Dawson.