Can Super Pav save struggling Bilic?

Slaven Bilic’s Lokomotiv Moscow are struggling in the Russian Premier League and his side currently lie in eighth place, having taken just three points from their last six matches. Add in an early exit from the domestic cup at the hands of Terek Grozny and some are already calling for Bilic to be replaced at this early stage of his tenure.

Any potential sacking of the former Croatian coach could have been brought forward had his side not managed to find a late, late equaliser from Dame N’Doye in their most recent match with Anzi Makhachkala. In fact, the Senegalese striker should have sealed all three points late on but Bilic may just be relieved at taking a point from second placed Anzhi.

The man credited with the assist for N’Doye’s goal was Roman Pavlyuchenko although the term ‘assist’ is quite generous in this case. Pav’s shot from the edge of the box rebounded off his strike partner before creeping over the line.

As a Spurs supporter, it’s been interesting to follow Pavlyucneko’s career in Russia and to see a similarity from his last days at White Hart Lane. Last weekend, the former Spartak striker came off the bench with nine minutes to go before setting up N’Dame’s equaliser and that’s a familiar scenario from his last two seasons at Tottenham.

At the end of the 2010-11 campaign, Pav came on as an early substitute in the final league match against Birmingham. His two long range goals sealed the win and after talk of a move away from London, the player started to make positive comments about the club.

 "Next year I think we really will be in the top three. Tottenham are a very strong team with excellent players,” he said in July 2011.

You may also recall Russia’s first game in Euro 2012 when Pavlyuchenko came on late in the game to firstly set up Alan Dzagoev before scoring himself in a 4-1 win. However, and this is the dilemma with the player, if you put him on from the start then he doesn’t seem quite so effective.

Pavlyuchenko’s stats this season don’t necessarily back up this view: Of his four goals to date, only one has been from the bench but he remains an enigma.

For now, the coach is leaving Pavluchenko out of the starting XI but the former Spurs man might just be the man to save Lokomotiv’s season, and Bilic’s job.