Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp has insisted that Bobby Zamora deserves a warm reception from Fulham fans at Craven Cottage this evening.
Zamora spent four seasons with Fulham but will lead the line for QPR in tonight's West London derby.
Redknapp believes that Zamora gave everything for Fulham and deserves a positive reaction from the club's supporters, despite leaving to sign for the Hoops last January.
The QPR boss has also slammed a culture of abusing ex-players when they return to former clubs, which he thinks is a negative feature of the modern game.
He told The Mirror: "Bobby is so important for us. I don't know why you should get stick when you back to a club, when you have done so well for them.
"I suppose it is tradition. But why do you abuse someone when they have given your club good service? I went and watched when Fulham played Juventus that night, and that was probably one of the best footballing nights I have ever been to. Fulham were 4-1 down on aggregate, but what a night of football.
"Bobby ripped Juventus to pieces, ripped the backside out of them. So he ought to go back to Craven Cottage and get a fantastic welcome. Years ago people would go back to their old club and get a standing ovation, all the crowd would clap them. Now, dear oh Lord, what has happened?"
QPR sit 19th in the Premier League table and are seven points from safety ahead of tonight's capital clash.
Liam Power
