The middle of the line

A bit of a lucky escape that one – Blackpool were clearly trying to take the game and the occasion for them was pretty massive – the first top-flight home game for decades.

Zamora showed how important he was, and that’s a bit of a worry as much as it is a blessing. He took the first goal with aplomb, heading in a Dembele cross late in the first half. However, Bobby came off early with a problem in his thigh, and the team seemed to collapse as a result, conceding two goals in five minutes. It’s quite likely that he won’t be fit for the next England game on Friday, which is a cruel twist of fate.

One of those Blackpool goals was an own-goal off Paintsil, who used the wrong foot to try and clear the ball. Fulham seem to be scoring quite a few for their opponents recently…

Anyway, it was Etuhu who spared Whites blushes at the end, getting an equaliser. Dembele was the supplier of the cross for that one too, so he’s certainly proven his worth in just three games.

As well as Zamora, Stockdale is an injury concern following a knock. He was apparently being watched by Capello as an option for England, but my worry for him is that he will find that he’s not fit ready for the next Fulham game and that Hughes has brought in a replacement for Schwarzer. As a young keeper he has showed a lot of promise and it would be tough to see him marginalised.

Wolves up next on Sept 11, followed by a trip to Blackburn the following week, and then off to Stoke for the next round of the League Cup. These are all games that they are capable of winning, but none of the teams are pushovers, especially those who will have home advantage.