Andrei Coubiș has been named the Stacey West readers’ Man of the Match on his first Lincoln City start, in the 1-1 draw with Southampton at Sincil Bank.
The Romanian defender was handed his first City start as part of a bold team selection, replacing Dom Jefferies at right wing-back. Any concerns about how quickly he might adapt to Championship football were soon swept aside as he delivered an energetic, aggressive performance on the right.
Southampton took the lead through a fine long-range strike, but the Imps refused to buckle against a side many expect to be challenging towards the top of the division. Mikkel Ladefoged’s late equaliser earned City a deserved point, with Coubiș playing a major part in another encouraging team display.
He received an average score of 8.02 from 134 readers, placing him ahead of Adam Reach. Goalscorer Ladefoged completed the top three.
Andrei Coubiș v Southampton in numbers
Coubiș made his intentions clear almost immediately. His shot inside the opening minute was blocked before he met the resulting corner with a header that was held by the Southampton goalkeeper.
That early involvement set the tone. The 22-year-old registered four shots during his 95 minutes on the pitch, more than might ordinarily be expected from a right wing-back. One found the target, while his efforts produced a combined expected goals figure of 0.72.
That relatively high xG total shows he was not merely trying his luck from speculative positions. Coubiș repeatedly attacked dangerous areas and recorded six touches inside the Southampton penalty area. He also created one shooting opportunity for a teammate.
His delivery provided another source of encouragement. Coubiș completed two of his three crosses, including one wicked first-half ball which Freddie Draper could not quite get onto. Three of his four attempted long passes also found their target.
There was a bit of room for improvement in his general distribution. He completed 32 of 42 passes, giving him an accuracy of 76%, and lost possession 12 times. However, that percentage was almost exactly the overall team percentage of completed passes, and only one of those losses occurred inside his own half, which reflects where he was being asked to take risks.
The attacking numbers only tell half of the story. Coubiș contested 13 duels and won six, including four of his seven defensive duels. He also won one of his two aerial contests, made three interceptions and recorded two clearances. His seven recoveries were particularly notable. Three came inside Southampton’s half, helping City sustain pressure and preventing the visitors from settling into possession. That willingness to press forward and compete physically helped make life uncomfortable for a team packed with technically gifted players.
There were occasional signs that Coubiș is still adjusting to the role and the demands of the Championship. He won only one of his three attacking duels and was unsuccessful with his sole dribble, but the overall impression was overwhelmingly positive.
Coubiș looked powerful, adventurous and unafraid to influence the game at both ends of the pitch. On a day when Ladefoged supplied the memorable late moment, it was City’s new right wing-back who produced the performance most appreciated by Stacey West readers.
Andrei Coubiș — where he played this match. Brighter areas are where he spent most time; he is attacking left to right.
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