After enjoying an impressive start to the season, Aymeric Laporte was probably the last player Manchester City fans expected to drop a stinker of a performance against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Unfortunately for Laporte and City, that is exactly what happened.
Things started off badly for the centre-back when his under-hit pass in the sixth minute resulted in Wilfried Zaha's opener for the visitors.
Laporte, usually so calm and progressive on the ball, did not look his usual self afterwards, a feeling compounded by his sending off just before half-time for hauling down Zaha when through on goal.
City were arguably better in the second half despite the man disadvantage, but a late goal from Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher condemned them to a second league defeat of the season.
Laporte's performance was worthy of Halloween weekend, a contributing factor in City's downfall. Yet while City fans cringed and squirmed in their seats, John Stones was preparing to take full advantage.
The England defender has been unable to break up the Laporte and Ruben Dias centre-back partnership this season, but on the evidence of his 30 minute cameo on Saturday, he will head into next weekend's Manchester derby at full tilt.
Shortly after his introduction to the action, Stones provided the kind of build-up from defence that City had struggled with all afternoon. His lofted pass found Phil Foden out wide, although Gabriel Jesus' goal from the resulting cross was ruled out for a marginal offside against the England playmaker.
After that he did remarkably well to Cruyff turn his way out of a tight spot in City's half, the kind of confidence Pep Guardiola loves his defenders to have on the ball.
With Laporte facing a one-match ban, Stones will likely partner Dias at Old Trafford on Saturday. Another player who may benefit from Laporte's misfortune is Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Like Stones, the Ukrainian has mostly sat on the bench this season, with Joao Cancelo preferred at left-back. But like Laporte, Cancelo did not have a good game.
The Portugal international has been one of City's stand-out performers this campaign, but he has not yet shaken off a tendency to put in sloppy displays when things aren't going City's way. But that's not the only reason why Zinchenko may be called upon for the upcoming meeting with United.
Last season, when both established themselves in Guardiola's preferred starting XI, they tended to come as a pair. In the big league and Champions League games, a Stones start meant a Zinchenko start. When Pep rotated, both tended to drop out, with Laporte and Cancelo replacing them.
This might be simply because they were both playing well, but there is also a more tactical consideration to be made
If Guardiola was to pick an entirely right-footed back four of Walker, Dias, Stones and Cancelo, with Jack Grealish on the left-wing, then City's play could become very narrow.
Cancelo at left-back works partly because with a left-footed Laporte alongside him at centre-back, City can tap into numerous passing lanes when building the play. If everyone in defence is right-footed, then that becomes a bit more difficult.
The way to balance a right-footed centre-back pairing is to start with a naturally left-footed left-back and Zinchenko is the standout candidate.
Despite a sub-par performance from Cancelo on Saturday, were it not for Laporte's red card he would've been fairly confident of keeping his place for the derby.
Now though, it looks like Zinchenko, not just Stones, have been afforded a route back into Guardiola's side by Laporte's ill-discipline.
Do you think that Oleksandr Zinchenko will take Joao Cancelo's place against Man United? Follow City Is Ours writer Alex Brotherton on Twitter to join the conversation and let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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