Keen to get at the Warriors
DPMM confident ahead of top-of-the-table tussle
WARRIORS FC v BRUNEI DPMM
(Tonight, 7.30pm, Choa Chu Kang Stadium)
Warriors FC coach Alex Weaver told The New Paper on Tuesday that they had no fear of Brunei DPMM, as his side geared up for tonight's clash between the top two in the Great Eastern Yeo's S.League at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium.
When shown yesterday's story, with the headline: "DPMM CAN BE BEATEN", DPMM coach Steve Kean laughed.
He said: "This kind of talk happened every week when I was back in England and it really looks like you just can't run from it. It's part of the game."
The former Blackburn Rovers boss insisted he didn't want to get involved in what he described as a "he said she said" battle with any of his counterparts in the competition.
"A team only need to talk through the way they play. And you can look at how we've dominated games - the wins, the goals scored and goals conceded. So I like to leave my talk on the pitch."
The league leaders are on a roll, winning their seventh game in succession when they beat Albirex Niigata 2-1 in Bandar Seri Begawan last week.
They've scored 32 goals and conceded only six in 12 games.
The second-placed Warriors, however, are in good spirits, after posting a 1-0 win over Geylang International in their last outing to keep up the chase for top spot.
They will also have home support behind them.
How the crowd reacts, however, is the least of midfielder Azwan Ali's worries.
Speaking after their training session last night at Bedok Stadium, DPMM star Azwan said: "We just need to focus on our game plan and our priority is to extend the seven-point lead to 10.
"When you're playing away, the home crowd is always against you, but that's what they're supposed to do, they're supposed to make it hard for you."
One of the youngest prospects of the Bruneian outfit, Azwan, 22, is the team's top local goalscorer with four.
And he plans to add to that goal tally against the Warriors.
"The coach has taught me so much and it's done a lot for my self-confidence. I hope to repay his faith in me by scoring tomorrow, and for the rest of the season," said the stylish youngster.
DPMM's marquee signing Roy O'Donovan also saw the article where Warriors coach Weaver rallied his men.
The Irishman said: "When people start talking about you, that's a sign that you're doing something right.
"We're in no way afraid of them, in fact, I'm more excited about the match. It'll be a big challenge for sure, because they're our nearest rivals, but I'm sure it'll be a cracking game."
The hitman, who has scored 11 goals, then proceeded to board the bus back to their hotel, but before he closed the door, he said: "Talk is cheap. We'll see who's talking after the game tomorrow."
Cheetahs, Jaguars share the spoils
Hougang United scored yet another late equaliser, through defender Lau Meng Meng in the 85th minute, to cancel out Kamel Ramdani's first-half strike and rescue a 1-1 draw against Tanjong Pagar in their Great Eastern Yeo's S.League clash at the Hougang Stadium last night.
The Cheetahs and the Jaguars remain in sixth and 10th spot respectively in the 12-team table.
At the Toa Payoh Stadium, goals by Fadhil Noh and Chang Jo Yoon helped Woodlands to a 2-1 win over Balestier Khalsa, whose consolation goal was scored by Goran Ljubojevic.
This is only the third win in 13 games for the Rams, who are eighth, just behind the Tigers on goal difference.
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