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Zamora's double sinks Blackpool

LONDON: Fulham forward Bobby Zamora plunged Blackpool further into the relegation mire as his double-strike inspired a 3-0 win in the English Premier League at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Zamora scored twice in the span of five minutes midway through the first half and Dickson Etuhu struck after the interval to lift Fulham into mid-table and leave Blackpool just one point and one place above the relegation zone with seven games to play.

Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed stole the show before kick-off as he unveiled a statue of pop legend Michael Jackson outside his club's west London stadium.

Fulham's supporters soon had other things to occupy their minds as Mark Hughes's team romped to an emphatic victory. The Cottagers had won four of their last five home league matches and they hit the post in the 16th minute.

Carlos Salcido's left-wing cross was headed back by Zamora to Moussa Dembele, whose superb lay-off was met by Damien Duff with a powerful shot that Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson pushed onto a post.

However, Kingson could do nothing to prevent Zamora opening the scoring in the 23rd minute as he latched onto James Beattie's wayward back pass and ran clear before firing home.

After three substitute appearances, Zamora was enjoying his first Fulham start for seven months as the England striker continues his return from a broken leg suffered against Wolves.

Blackpool had won only one of its last 10 league games and its hopes of improving that dismal sequence were all but over as Zamora glanced in a header from Duff's cross.

Arsenal disappoints

Arsenal's title challenge is in tatters as the Gunners lost more ground on leader Manchester United after being held to a 0-0 draw by Blackburn on Saturday.

Arsene Wenger's side went into the Emirates Stadium clash knowing that anything less than a victory would not be good enough to maintain its push for the title.

Arsenal is seven points behind United with one game in hand.

The results: Fulham 3 (Zamora 23, 28, Etuhu 72) bt Blackpool 0. On Saturday: Arsenal 0 drew with Blackburn 0 . — Agencies

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