Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Lokomotiv Moskva 3rd with 56 points, Tambov 16th with 13, 43 apart. Against a league average of 1.33 goals per team per game, Tambov ran at 0.63 scored and 2.17 conceded, Lokomotiv Moskva at 1.5 and 1.17.
Defeat had followed defeat for Tambov — seven in succession. Over the last five, Tambov had taken 0 of 15 points to Lokomotiv Moskva's 7.
Mordovia Arena in Saransk staged the fixture, a ground that holds 41,685. Half-time and full-time told different stories: it was 1-1 at the break, before 5 more goals closed it at 2-5.