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SunSport |
Burnley 1 Fulham 1
ROY HODGSON refused to endorse Bobby Zamora's England hopes after the striker's emphatic answer to his critics.
Zamora peaked a fine display by drilling the Cottagers' fine 50th minute opener, before Wade Elliot volleyed Burnley's deserved leveller 10 minutes later.
But Hodgson denied publically calling for Fabio Capello to consider Zamora as a busy, powerful option for his England squad.
The Fulham chief said: "I've been a national coach in three countries and the thing I hated most was a club coach saying I should pick his player.
"I have vowed never to do that and I never will.
"There's an awful long way between saying what I said and touting Bobby Zamora to play for England."
But Hodgson added: "Bobby is playing well. He had a slight knock at half-time but he managed to carry on and he scored a good goal. He's leading the line very well."
Hodgson admitted his frustration at Fulham wasting first-half chances.
He said: "It was a difficult place to come and if I'd been offered a point before the game I would have been tempted.
"But after the way we played in the first half I think I can be a little bit disappointed that we didn't take all three points."
Burnley chief Owen Coyle said: "Any point in the Premier League is hard-earned and we picked ourselves up off the floor and scored a great goal and might have added to it.
"We committed players forward and I felt we showed a lot of qualities today and it could turn out to be a very valuable point.
"We know the quality in the Premier League and it's a learning curve. But the players have an appetite for it and a quality and we play the right way."
Coyle picked out Chris Eagles after the midfielder's tireless display helped turn the tide in Burnley's favour.
Coyle enthused: "Eagles was outstanding. He was out on his legs and he gave everything and on that form, if he does it every week, then the world is his oyster."
Damien Duff and Erik Nevland went close early on for Fulham.
And, though Mark Schwarzer foiled Robbie Blake's 20-yarder, the visitors stayed on top for the rest of the half
Burnley keeper Brian Jensen kept out Duff's fierce drive, before home winger Eagles conjured one dazzling run and forced Schwarzer into another fine stop.
The Cottagers then defied Burnley's bright start to the second period as Zamora evaded Steven Caldwell at Chris Baird's quick free-kick and finished clinically.
But Elliott soon showed even greater aplomb, firing into the top corner after Stephen Jordan's cross flicked off Fulham defender Aaron Hughes' head
Home fans roared Burnley forward but Zamora went closest to a winner, almost reaching Brede Hangeland's through-pass after Caldwell seemed to drag him back.
Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan, Eagles (Guerrero 86), Alexander, Bikey (McDonald 77), Elliott, Blake (Nugent 56), Steven Fletcher. Subs Not Used: Penny, Kalvenes, Gudjonsson, Thompson.
Goals: Elliott 60.
Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky, Greening, Baird, Dempsey, Duff, Nevland (Gera 77), Zamora. Subs Not Used: Stockdale, Murphy, Riise, Smalling, Dikgacoi, Elm.
Booked: Greening, Konchesky.
Goals: Zamora 50.
Att: 18,397
Ref: Mike Jones (Cheshire).
Source .