Albert Sambi Lokonga and Ainsley Maitland-Niles impressed after earning starts for Crystal Palace and Southampton on Saturday.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Joao Felix of Chelsea is challenged by Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Stuart Armstrong of Southampton during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Southampton FC at Stamford Bridge on February 18, 2023. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Joao Felix of Chelsea is challenged by Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Stuart Armstrong of Southampton during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Southampton FC at Stamford Bridge on February 18, 2023. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Arsenal loanee Albert Sambi Lokonga made his first start for Crystal Palace on Saturday, as they travelled away to Brentford.

The midfielder had already made a couple of substitute appearances against Manchester United and Brighton, but this was his first chance to impress in the starting lineup.

Meanwhile, Ainsley Maitland-Niles was simultaneously starting for Southampton away to Chelsea.

The versatile 25-year-old has played all sorts of positions for Southampton this season, but on this occasion, he was playing at right-back.

Lokonga completed 63 minutes of a 1-1 draw for Palace against Brentford, though both goals were scored after his substitution.

The Palace fans weren’t pleased when he was withdrawn, with many of them voicing their displeasure at the substitution on social media.

  • @BenM_CPFC: “Been one of our best players but ok”
  • @Noljitsu11: “Why? Sambi has been great”
  • @eaglism: “We’re going to concede from this sub”
  • @FirazMotiwala: “Why!? He’s actually been trying to progress the ball forward and making ambitious passes.”
  • @ju1iannnnnn: “Why for Sambi???”

Many of the other replies to Crystal Palace’s tweet about the substitution were similar, criticising Patrick Vieira’s decision to make the change in much more aggressive terms. We probably shouldn’t repeat those here.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Mason Mount of Chelsea in action with Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Southampton during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Southampton FC at Stamford Bridge on February 18, 2023. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Mason Mount of Chelsea in action with Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Southampton during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Southampton FC at Stamford Bridge on February 18, 2023. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

As for Maitland-Niles, the right-back succeeded in shutting down the likes of Joao Felix, Mason Mount, and Mykhailo Mudryk to help Southampton to keep a clean sheet and win 1-0 against Chelsea.

After two consecutive starts for Maitland-Niles and such a big result for the 20th-place side, perhaps he now has a shot at a run of games in the second half of the season.