MOSCOW, December 8 (R-Sport) - FC Volga scored a surprise 1-0 away win over Lokomotiv Moscow in the Russian Premier League on Saturday, with Shamil Asildarov's header proving decisive.
It was a first win in five games for the Nizhny Novgorod side, who move up a place to 14th with 17 points.
Lokomotiv remain seventh on 31 points, nine off CSKA Moscow's lead.
Lokomotiv spurned two clear chances before going a goal down, and a host of opportunities after.
Felipe Caicedo skipped past Volga goalkeeper Mikhail Kerzhakov but the angle was too tight to shoot, and Dame N'Doye was an inch away from connecting with his cross.
N'Doye whipped across an inviting cross not long after but it was again missed by onrushing Lokomotiv players.
Volga took advantage of their hosts' profligacy in front of goal, as Asildarov pealed off Lokomotiv defender Taras Burlak to head his team in front.
Bilic had just managed to turn around a run of poor form, winning his last three matches after six without a victory.
Lokomotiv's longtime out-of-favor striker Dmitry Sychev came on for the last 20 minutes, making just his third appearance of the season.
He nearly set up N'Doye on 80 minutes, but the Senegalese striker's touch was too heavy and Kerzhakov claimed the loose ball.
Kerzhakov dived to his left to clutch a point-blank N'Doye header moments later.
Dmitry Tarasov grazed the outside of the post with a header as the visitors rode their luck.
Hundreds of Lokomotiv fans left the stadium on the hour mark in protest against the club blacklisting 118 fans without explanation.
Earlier Saturday, Alania Vladikavkaz earned their first point in eight games with a 0-0 draw at nine-man FC Kuban, and Krylya Sovetov bagged a first win in 11 matches by beating Amkar Perm 2-0.
On Sunday, Dynamo Moscow look to continue their revival under Dan Petrescu at Terek Grozny, before league leaders CSKA Moscow play bottom team Mordovia Saransk.
Then on Monday, Rubin Kazan host Spartak Moscow before the match of the round, third-placed Zenit St. Petersburg vs. second-placed Anzhi Makhachkala.
It is the last round of games before a three-month winter break.
