Preview: Gombak United vs Tampines Rovers

Defeated Gombak look to pay it forward

Fabius Chen
info@sleague.com

And then there were two.

Gombak United’s 2-1 defeat to Brunei DPMM at Jalan Besar Stadium last Friday left the Bruneians and Tampines Rovers, who visit Jurong West Stadium on Thursday, as the only sides yet to taste defeat in the Great Eastern-YEO’S S.League 2009.

It could well be a twisted case of “do unto others as you had them do unto you”, as the Bulls look to recover from their first loss of the season by putting an end to the Stags’ own unbeaten start.

With his squad at full-strength ahead of Tampines’ visit, Gombak head coach Darren Stewart was looking forward to the game and made it clear that his players are, too.

“We are looking forward to playing a good team in Tampines,” he said.

“There will be no worries about their unbeaten streak; we just want to put in a good performance.”

Stewart declared himself pleased with the way his side has responded since the loss to DPMM.

With regards to the mood within the squad, he commented: “The morale is simply fantastic. They are a terrific bunch of people to work with and one poor result will never change that.

“The boys have given everything they’ve got in every game, so it’s simply a question of how we respond to the loss and put it behind us.”

One aspect of the game against DPMM that will be of particular concern to Stewart, however, is that both opposition goals were scored from free-kicks.

“We need to look at how to stop giving away free-kicks in dangerous areas,” he stated plainly.

It is a warning his players will have to heed if they are to return to winning ways, especially with Tampines’ Thai midfield star Sutee Suksomkit equally adept at dead-ball situations as DPMM’s two-goal hero, Sairol Sahari.

With his side’s free-kick duties in the reliable hands of his fellow countryman, Stags head coach Vorawan Chitavanich has other key players to worry about.

Singapore internationals Khairul Amri and Ridhuan Muhammad are set to miss a few more weeks of action, while Imran Sahib, who started in place of Ridhuan in the last game against the Young Lions, lasted just 28 minutes before succumbing to a knee ligament strain.

Faced with a growing injury list, it is no wonder, then, that Vorawan expects Thursday’s game to be an uphill battle.

“Gombak has done very well so far this season, so it will be a very tough game for us,” he said.

“I don’t really care about remaining unbeaten. What is important is that my players give their 100 percent.”

Indeed, his side’s unbeaten start to the season has been punctuated with a distinct inability to turn draws into wins, with five of their eight games thus far ending in stalemates.

This translates into either one of two assessments: that the Stags are doing enough to avoid losing games, or that they aren’t doing enough to win them.

Taking into consideration the talent at his disposal, it was obvious which point of view Vorawan would adopt.

“We want to play well in every game but sometimes we fail to win, even against the less-accomplished teams,” he lamented.

“It is especially disappointing because I know my boys have the quality to beat any other team in the league.”

A positive result on Thursday would certainly vindicate that statement.