The Southampton star who was more impressive than Larin and Scienza vs Swansea
Southampton's incredible unbeaten home record in the Championship is still intact as another early league leader was humbled at St. Mary's on Tuesday night.
Startlingly, Tonda Eckert's side haven't tasted a single defeat at St. Mary's in league action since January, when Hull City won 2-1, before sealing promotion.
At the end of August, it was Millwall who were swept to one side with ease 5-1, and this time around, it was Vitor Matos' Swansea City who were on the receiving end of an unsettling 3-1 defeat, leading to West Ham United leapfrogging them to top spot on goal difference.
Amazingly, if Eckert's men hadn't been deducted four points due to their manager's dark art antics with Spygate, they would currently be occupying top spot on goal difference, ahead of the Hammers, having given up two goals fewer than Nuno Espirito Santo's giants.
Instead, they remain two points off the playoff positions, in reality, with a win against Bristol City being eyed up to sneak into the top eight.
If they play like they did against the visitors from Wales when facing a tricky Robins team, another victory should be forthcoming, with plenty of standout performers impressing the over the moon St Mary's masses.
The main standout performers vs Swansea
The obvious place to start here is with Southampton's first goalscorer of the night, as Finn Azaz set the tone for the rest of the memorable evening by coolly slotting a chance home after only nine minutes had been played.
He has missed a glorious chance moments before beating Lawrence Vigouroux, but he thankfully bounced back from two quiet displays away from home against Birmingham City and Lincoln City with his second goal of the season, after Flynn Downes played him in brilliantly.
Downes was also terrific throughout, as he begins to form a stable partnership with James Ward-Prowse as one of two consistent midfield anchors, with six tackles and duels won to support the steady Saints backline, away from assisting Azaz's opener.
Then, it was time for Cyle Larin to be typically clinical in front of goal after Azaz slotted his early effort home, with the Brampton Bagsman now joint top of the goalscoring charts temporarily with his fifth goal of the season sticking out as an archetypal poacher's finish.
Leo Scienza would make sure of the three points during the second half with a sweetly taken shot, but he was a livewire throughout, away from this decisive strike, with three successful dribbles registered constantly bamboozling the Swans defence.
All in all, it was another game where the star-studded Saints attack shone, but this understated ace was even more impressive than Larin and Scienza, arguably.
This star was even more impressive than Larin & Scienza
While it has become expected now that the likes of the potent Canadian, and his Brazilian teammate, will dazzle Championship defences for fun, there would have been an expectation that Keven Schlotterbeck would need time to settle after his late summer move from Augsburg.
There was a lot of pressure on his shoulders, too, to instantly succeed, having been purchased around the same time Taylor Harwood-Bellis was finalising a move to Aston Villa.
Safe to say, the £3m forked out on Schlotterbeck looks to be money very well spent, already, as he was superb, again, up against the Swans, who boast a frightening attack themselves.
Žan Vipotnik did score, but his sole goal came from the penalty spot, as he was reduced to just 16 touches in open play.
The rock-solid 29-year-old would also win 100% of his aerial duels when the Swans attempted to battle on the road.
If that wasn't enough, he's proven himself to be a competent passer out from the back, as well, to help build Southampton attacks, with only eight of his 59 passes going astray against Matos and Co.
Amassing 69 touches overall, he has bedded in seamlessly to his new environment, and while Larin and Scienza had their moments of predicted magic, Schlotterbeck continues to give these attackers the platform to impress themselves with near faultless showings at the back.
It was a real team display on Tuesday night that got the three points over the line, with Kuryu Matsuki even hopping off the bench to assist Scienza's breakaway effort, with Eckert hopeful that his talented squad can all sing off the same hymn sheet again against Michael Skubala's challenging visitors on Saturday.
