He started really poorly but was coming on to a game and had put a string of very good performances together before he got injured. Think it was fairly unanimous at the time his injury was a blow as he was by far and away our best defender at that point. He was also brilliant and man of the match in the first Derby of the season. He's a good defender. Not a brilliant ball player but even that is overplayed. Someone mentioned it being no coincidence we improved when Rocky came in which is true but think that was more to do with Bursik dropping out for Smith and the change of shape. Bursik was terrible with his feet which compounded the issue of passing out from the back. Smith had improved that no end and clears left and right. Also worth noting we weren't too clever still when Rocky was in but we were playing with a 2 still. Ekpiteta is a very good defender and I'd rather focus on his good form he grew into rather than his bad start in the team that was symptomatic of the whole team early doors