SINGAPORE PREMIER LEAGUE
Geylang International v Brunei DPMM
Our Tampines Hub, 8.30pm
Brunei DPMM are enjoying their view from the summit a third into the Singapore Premier League season, but coach Adrian Pennock does not believe his side will end the campaign unbeaten.
With seven wins and two draws, they are the only unbeaten team. They lead champions Albirex Niigata (17 points) by six points.
DPMM will look to extend their excellent run against third-from-bottom Geylang International at Our Tampines Hub tonight.
However, when asked if his side could emulate Albirex's feat last year, when the Japanese team did not lose a league game, Pennock said: "It's not impossible, but we've played every team now, and it'll be very, very difficult to do.
"Every game we played, maybe except (a 7-1 win over) Balestier where they had injuries to key players, hasn't been a walkover. So it'll be a very tall order.
"We're just enjoying the moment, but we know we've got to lose sometime, and maybe soon."
The Englishman, who was formerly assistant to Tony Pulis at Premier League side Stoke City, added: "Obviously, it's great to be sitting nicely at the top of the tree, but we're there to be shot at."
Pennock, 48, pointed to the fitness work done in pre-season last December, daily runs on the hills and in the jungles of Bandar Seri Begawan, as being key to the team's current success.
His foreign imports have also shone. Former Belarus international striker Andrei Varankou is the league's leading scorer with 12 goals, while Australian midfielder Blake Ricciuto has also impressed, scoring four goals in the last five games.
"The important thing for us has been hard work," said Pennock.
"We have players who can score goals and win games on their own, but everybody works hard for each other.
"We can still improve. We're not the finished article for sure."
The odds are stacked against Geylang, whose coach Noor Ali faces a major selection headache.
Barry Maguire, Syahiran Miswan, Noor Ariff and Darren Teh are suspended, while former Singapore internationals Firdaus Kasman (calf) and Christopher van Huizen (back) are struggling with injuries. Key attacker Shawal Anuar is not match fit after recovering from a serious knee injury.
Noor Ali named six Under-23 players in his starting XI in last Saturday's 2-0 defeat by Albirex and may have to field even more youngsters against DPMM.
But he said: "This is an opportunity for my young boys to show if they are able to put in consistent performances. And they are willing to play hard and compete."
Referring to this week's Champions League comebacks by Liverpool and Tottenham, he quipped: "There have been two big upsets in football already this week. Maybe our game could be the third?"
Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has made a bizarre claim about Tottenham Hotspur following their stadium move. The Lilywhites celebrated their long-awaited move to their new stadium in midweek with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace, which lifted Mauricio Pochettino's side back to third in the table - although Arsenal have a game in hand.
Rumour Has It: Tottenham to splash the cash for Poch
Sergio Ramos set Spain on course for a comfortable victory over Sweden in qualifying for Euro 2020. The Real Madrid defender, 33, broke the deadlock at his club's home ground, scoring a second-half penalty for his 20th goal from 165 caps.
Football: Spain in charge of Group F after beating Sweden
Football: 'Stratospheric' Messi scores 400th La Liga goal in Barca win. Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Eibar - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - January 13, 2019 Barcelona's
'Stratospheric' Messi scores 400th La Liga goal in Barca win
Football: Delighted Klopp tells players to stay focused LONDON (AFP) - Jurgen Klopp refused to get carried away with the growing expectation that Liverpool can lift the league title for the first time in 29 years saying his players must stay focussed after they thrashed Arsenal 5-1 on Saturday (Dec 29).
Delighted Klopp tells players to stay focused - The 1873 TV
Football: Sarri fears Chelsea ban will ruin title hopes. Chelsea's success next season hinges on transfer ban being lifted, says former striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
More racial abuse cases heighten calls for action
Speaking to James Pearce on the Liverpool ECHO Blood Red podcast, Benitez said: "I want to be very respectful to my team, but this team is much better. "Not just the team, but the squad. In my
James Milner keen to avoid all-Premier League affair in
Chelsea transfer news: Maurizio Sarri told to replace THIS star with Callum Hudson-Odoi. That's the verdict of Martin Keown. Pedro has featured in 19 of Chelsea's 23 Premier League matches
Chelsea line up potential Maurizio Sarri replacement
Sergio Aguero's hat-trick led Manchester City to a 3-1 win over Arsenal on Sunday and back into second place in the Premier League, two points behind leaders Liverpool. The victory put the
Football: Aguero hat-trick fires Man City to 3-1 win over Arsenal
Aug 24, 2011 · Tottenham Hotspur poised to receive £8.5m from Boris Johnson This article is more than 7 years old London mayor offering football club financial assistance to revamp their stadium and help
Why West Ham, Not Tottenham, Are Poised to Be London's Next
Report Ad
Free Shipping Available. Buy on eBay. Money Back Guarantee!
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is set to serve a second term after world football's governing body said on Wednesday he would be the only candidate for June's vote.
Infantino sole candidate for FIFA presidency in June vote
7 Urgent Issues to Challenge in Your Youth Group! 40 thoughts on " 7 Urgent Issues to That's the kind of faith that will survive the youth's transition
0 comments:
Post a Comment