Kvartalnov: Lokomotiv beat Traktor 4:1

Gordon pointed to two empty-net goals late on and two defensive errors that let Lokomotiv in twice more. Asked whether senior players such as Nikita Soshnikov, Vyacheslav Dzhioshvili, Andrei Zharkov and Mikhail Grigorenko looked below their best, he pushed back.

Lokomotiv, last season's champion, remain unbeaten this campaign. Dmitri Kvartalnov, their head coach, called the win a good result despite a power play that failed to click.

Among the scorers was Matvey Kotkov, an 18-year-old forward who has now scored twice against Traktor this season after opening the scoring in the 5:1 season opener between the sides. Kvartalnov noted the second did not count for much, since it came into an empty net, but praised the teenager for holding down a place in the side.

Kvartalnov likened Kotkov's progress to that of Andrei Pustovoy, another young forward at the club learning his trade in the first team.