Man Utd loanee Chris Smalling turns in brilliant man-of-the-match display as Roma beat Lecce
MANCHESTER UNITED loanee Chris Smalling turned in brilliant man-of-the-match display as Roma beat Lecce 1-0 on Sunday.
After losing his first game as a Roma player 2-0 against Atalanta, Smalling was in dominant form in Sunday's 1-0 win.
The ex-England star, 29, was the game leader in terms of clearances, recoveries, blocks, interceptions and even shots taken.
Smalling won all seven of his aerial duels and boasted a 100 per cent tackle success rate.
He made ten recoveries, three headed clearances, two interceptions and a pair of blocks to go with his four shots.
The former Maidstone United defender was given the Man of the Match award to boot as Roma climbed to fifth in the Serie A standings.
Chris Smalling for Roma vs Lecce
• 100% aerial duels won (7/7)
• 100% tackles won (2/2)
• most ball recoveries (10)
• joint most shots taken (4)
• most headed clearances (3)
• joint most interceptions (2)
• joint most blocks (2)
The only spot on his record for the game was the fact he picked up a yellow card.
It's been an interesting weekend for Man Utd's loanees in the Serie A - after Alexis Sanchez went from hero to villain for Inter Milan.
First of all, the Chilean flop scored on his full debut to equal his Premier League from all of last season.
Sanchez was also involved in another Inter goal, after team-mate Sensi's long-range effort deflected off his back and into the net.
But he was then sent off after picking up a second yellow card for diving as Inter ran out 3-1 winners.
It has now been revealed Sanchez has cut all ties with the Man Utd squad having been shipped out on loan.
A club source revealed: "It’s as if he was never here."
Smalling is said to still keep in touch on the players' group thread, though.