Lokomotiv rail against hard times

Miserable end
If the blow of losing their Russian title to PFC CSKA Moskva was not enough, the 1-1 draw against FC Spartak Moskva in their final Premier-Liga match denied Vladimir Eshtrekov's side second place in the table and a UEFA Champions League berth for 2006/07.

Serious hangover
They looked to be suffering a hangover from that result in the first half of their UEFA Cup tie against Brøndby IF last week, trailing 2-0 at the interval. However, what followed gave the club hope for a brighter new year as captain Dmitri Loskov scored three goals in a 4-2 victory.

Remarkable recovery
The comeback was even more remarkable considering Lokomotiv had only four fit and available midfielders. Brazilian stalwart Francisco Lima is solving "personal problems" in Italy, Dmitri Khokhlov has another two matches of a ban to serve, while Vladimir Maminov and Marat Izmailov are injured.

Another blow
Such spirit will also need to be in evidence in Israel as Lokomotiv, second in Group B with four points from three outings, seek the win that could secure a place in the UEFA Cup knockout rounds. But what they must recover from now is a double blow to club morale.

Iconic pair
Iconic coach Yuri Semin's decision to take charge of FC Dinamo Moskva after leaving his role with the Russia national team was a shock to many, and that setback was compounded by the news that goalkeeper Sergei Ovchinnikov, a Lokomotiv stalwart, will be following his former trainer to Dinamo.

Ovchinnikov rested
Ovchinnikov has been omitted from the squad for the Petach-Tikva game, and while Eshtrekov has declined to comment on the situation, team doctor Saveli Myshalov was more forthcoming when he reflected on the reaction in the camp to the goalkeeper's imminent defection.

'Complete surprise'
"It was a complete surprise," said Myshalov. "We were among the very last people to find out he was leaving. He left without warning anyone and as a free agent, so Lokomotiv are not going to receive anything for him. This news has hardly improved our mood."

Able deputy
With just one league start all season, Aleksei Poliakov will deputise for Ovchinnikov tonight, and though Eshtrekov publicly backed his No2 - "Poliakov is in good form and I am confident in him" - the absence of Lokomotiv's Mr Reliable will hit hard.

Pain barrier
With Eshtrekov's future also in doubt, the coach cannot allow the Ovchinnikov problem to affect his players too much at the Ramat Gan stadium. Following their courageous fighback against Brøndby, however, he will be hoping they can play through the pain once again.