NEVER mind chalk and cheese, black pudding and foie gras would more aptly describe the contrast between Division One's two top goalscorers on Saturday.
While West Bromwich Albion's Lee Hughes gamely chased lost causes in search of his third hat-trick in as many home games, Frenchman Louis Saha profited skilfully from sharp service into feet during a performance of some class from top-of-the-table Fulham.
With typical no-nonsense Black Country endeavour, Hughes hustles and bustles, never giving defenders a break, until a chance turns up. At that point his unerring eye for goal usually does the rest. It is a recipe that has brought 76 strikes in only 132 appearances since arriving from Kidderminster three years ago. Several Premiership clubs are reportedly taking a close look.
Much to manager Gary Megson's disgust, they now know the asking price too. It's been leaked that an escape clause in Hughes's contract forces West Bromwich to listen to offers of £5 million or more.
Worth a punt? Difficult to say. Unspectacular in style, Hughes may be the type capable of scoring at any level. And unlike another Black Country striker - former Wolves man Steve Bull - it sounds like the 24-year-old wouldn't, if the offer came along, be averse to a move to the top.
Scouts gathering at The Hawthorns, however, would have come away muttering only one name. Since his £2 million arrival from Metz in the summer, Saha has been an absolute revelation. Tremendous balance and pace over the first five yards take him past defenders with ridiculous ease and into positions that have earned him 20 goals so far.
A graduate of France's national academy at Clairefontaine, Saha's technical ability far outweighs that of Hughes. Not surprising really. While the young Frenchman was being expertly schooled alongside close friends Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka, Hughes was up a ladder somewhere helping his dad with his roofing business.
With that kind of background, a bit of wind and rain pass through virtually unnoticed whereas for Saha the delights of an English winter are new. If ever there was a day, therefore, to expose some character flaws, an intermittently filthy one in the West Midlands was it. Yet the forward came good with some breathtaking pieces of skill on a greasy surface not conducive to trickery.
Picking up a pass 10 yards into West Bromwich's half, Saha spun effortlessly, leaving two opponents in his wake before cutting a dangerous ball back from the byline. His partnership with Barry Hayles was proving far too potent for the home defence, who could only watch as Saha scuffed his team-mate's lay-off from 12 yards out.
For one so swift, it was surprising that Saha didn't look to run in behind the defence a bit more, preferring instead to come short to feet. This was good enough though. The 22-year-old brilliantly rode a tough tackle by Neil Clement before providing Hayles with a chance from which he really should have scored.
Up the other end, Hughes was having a hard time of it. Feeding off scraps, he eventually found room behind Fulham's back four, chesting down Des Lyttle's long ball but snatching at the shot. Apart from that, a hopeful header was his only other attempt in a sorry first half for the home side.
After the break Fulham continued to advance fluidly and Saha was only denied by a superb sliding tackle by James Chambers. A restless home crowd couldn't help cooing as the striker glided around every oncoming obstacle.
This was a hugely impressive performance by Saha. He says he is three years behind Arsenal's Henry in terms of development. Perhaps true, but with slightly more variation in his movement he will have all the qualities to become one of the Premiership's most accomplished strikers.
Source electronictelegraph