Problems of Lokomotiv with functional readiness and difficulties in attack

Two victories in a row, obtained after the dismissal of Josef Zinnbauer, allowed Lokomotiv to regain their confidence.

Under the guidance of acting head coach Andrey Fedorov, the railway workers beat Torpedo in the RPL and Khimki in the National Cup.

Another success would help them to leave the zone of joints in the national championship.

However, the capital's derby clearly demonstrated that the six points scored in meetings with outsiders should not be overestimated.

Even the ball scored in the first minute did not help the hosts.

The defense of Dynamo completely failed, and Francois Camano blocked Dmitry Zhivoglyadov's cross from the right flank with his head.

At first it seemed that the red-greens are competently act on the score.

They selflessly fought in every episode and regularly ran away to counterattack, taking advantage of the uncertain actions in the support zone of the young Alexander Kutitsky.

However, the advantage of blue and white became more and more palpable.

Having gathered, they suppressed the opponent in high pressure and almost did not allow him to cross the middle of the field, winning most of the duels.

The final statistics speak for themselves.

The guests delivered 23 shots (three - at Loko), 12 of which hit the target (two), and filed nine corners (two).

The railway workers with great difficulty penetrated into someone else's penalty area and mainly relied on filing from the flanks, which the tall Saba Sazonov and Roberto Fernandez easily coped with.

The main responsibility for the constructiveness in the other half lay with Anton Miranchuk, who for the first time under Fedorov entered the field from the first minutes, but he did not show himself in any way in terms of helping partners.

For example, I did not give them a single pass under attack.

After the break, Lokomotiv managed to get together for a while and even seized the initiative, but this still did not lead to dangerous moments at the gates of Anton Shunin.

Apart from the missed ball, the goalkeeper made only one simple save.

The most unpleasant was a weak header performed by Miranchuk from outside the penalty area.

And in the end, once again, not the best functional readiness made itself felt.

Having conceded from a free-kick from Arsen Zakharyan due to an offensive rebound in the 63rd minute, Fedorov's wards had to go forward, but they had no strength left for this.

Dynamo, on the contrary, carried out one quick attack after another.

Moreover, even extreme defenders were connected to them, which indicates a good condition.

As a result, the blue and white naturally earned a second penalty, and Daniil Fomin put an end to the match.

The home staff allowed the opportunity to change the game with the help of substitutions.

Technical Pedrinho, capable of creating problems for the defenders, received only ten minutes and did not show himself.

Forward Marko Rakognac remained on the bench at all.

But Girano Kerk, who tried to create sharpness on the right edge, was changed to the universal, but more prone to destruction, Konstantin Maradishvili.

No wonder he looked bleak too.

And Maxim Nenakhov generally marked with a minus sign, bringing a penalty.

Character of Dynamo and high performance

But Dynamo can only be praised.

The Blue-and-Whites, who went on a four-game losing streak in the championship at the beginning of autumn, scored three victories in a row in eight days.

It is especially important that the team again showed character.

At the start of the season, she only lost points in matches where she was leading (Fakel - 3:3, Paris Nizhny Novgorod - 2:2).

However, in the last two rounds, finding themselves in a difficult situation, Jokanovic's team achieved success.

In the course of the meeting, he was inferior to Orenburg 1:2, but turned out to be stronger, and conceded from Lokomotiv in the first minute and managed to make a comeback.

This attitude also indicates that the players finally rallied around the specialist and accepted him.

It is no coincidence that goalkeeper Igor Leshchuk mentioned a tough conversation between representatives of the headquarters and the players that took place in one of the classes.

It looks like he helped shake up the team emotionally.

And now the current bronze medalists of the Russian Championship seem to have returned to last season.

They do not close in defense by opening an account, but go forward and strive to convert as many chances as possible.

As a result, as part of the winning streak, they upset their opponents a total of nine times.

Particularly indicative in this regard was the derby with the railroad, when the guests ran to the last attack.

Even if all three goals that evening were scored by them from set pieces, all of them were the result of pressure from Dynamo.

Contributed to this and the timely castling of Jokanovic.

Although none of the reservists scored on Saturday, Konstantin Tyukavin earned a penalty.

Together with Vyacheslav Grulev and Daniil Lesov, they refreshed the line of attack of the blue and white.

Correct Kukuyan Solutions

Separately, it is necessary to say a couple of warm words to the referee team of Pavel Kukuyan.

The biggest questions were caused by the episode with the appointment of the first penalty against Lokomotiv.

All repetitions focused on the fight between Dmitry Barinov and Fernandez, in which the Russian did not violate the rules.

And only with a more thorough study it became clear why the referee pointed to the “point”.

Miranchuk touched the ball with his hand at the moment of the opponent's submission from the flank after the corner was played.

Therefore, the railroad did not even challenge the decision.

And Fedor Smolov confidently converted a penalty kick and scored the 100th anniversary goal in the RPL.

The appointment of the second penalty turned out to be indisputable.

Nenakhov frankly stepped on Tyukavin's foot.

Ideally, Kukuyan figured out the situation, and when Sazonov, after contact with Stanislav Magkeev, fell into someone else's penalty area.

Their duel took place even before the ball was put into play, and therefore the violation was not recorded.

And in the moment with the canceled goal of Zakharyan at the end of the first half, the assistants at VAR helped the referee.

After watching the replay, he was convinced that Smolov, who was offside, blocked the view of Marinato Guilherme and prevented him from saving the team.

However, Kukuyan worked well at other meetings of the giants in the current Premier League draw: Zenit - CSKA, Dynamo - Spartak and Spartak - Zenit.