Written By: Nigel Chin

Courts Young Lions vs Brunei DPMM
(Tuesday, 22 September, 7:30pm, Jalan Besar Stadium)

Brunei DPMM will be looking to continue their march towards the S.League title on Tuesday evening when they take on the Courts Young Lions.

The Bruneians are currently leading the league table, and have a three-point lead over defending champions Warriors FC with a game in hand.

While they drew their last game against third-placed Albirex Niigata (S), things are looking pretty rosy for Steve Kean’s men, having lost just once in their last 10 league games.

However, Kean knows that the job is not done until the final day of the season. After all, DPMM lost out on the title to Warriors in their very last game last year despite holding a sizeable lead heading into the final round.

That is why Kean is preferring to take it one game at a time this year, and he has called for his side to continue their good form on Tuesday.

“I think at this stage of the season, we have set the standards well – how we go and play with our work ethics and discipline without the ball,” Kean said.

“That’s the first thing we need to demand from each other. If we can get that performance, it will be hard for any oppositions to beat us.

“That’s the target for the next game, to play as well as we did [against Albirex] with or without the ball, and I’m confident we can get the goals.”

The Young Lions cannot be underestimated though, despite languishing close to the bottom of the table right now.

Juergen Raab’s men come into the game on the back of a solid 1-0 win over Tampines Rovers.

Although they had just two days of rest, Raab has a number of players returning from injury and he now possess different options when selecting his starting eleven, even though he will be missing Jordan Webb through suspension.

Raab was also impressed with the way Under-23 side “fought in the game and improved from their previous defeats.”

Having gained just one point in the previous two league matches against DPMM, the Young Lions will no doubt be gunning for all three points this time round.

Suspension: Jordan Webb (Courts Young Lions)

Key Men To Watch

Courts Young Lions: M. Anumanthan

The midfielder was a menace for Tampines in his last game. Apart from popping up everywhere to break up the Stag’s attacks, he also netted a stunning strike to settle the contest.

Against a DPMM side filled with attacking talents, Anumanthan will definitely need to bring his ‘A’ game once more if the Young Lions want to cause another upset.

Brunei DPMM: Paulo Sergio

The Portuguese forward cut a frustrated figure in his last game, after he failed to find the back of the net despite having numerous chances to do so.

Still, Sergio is arguably the best attacker in the league on his day, and the Young Lions may be in for a long and tough night if they fail to keep the former Sporting Lisbon youngster quiet.

Courts Young Lions – LWLLW

19/09/15      Tampines Rovers 0-1 Courts Young Lions (S.League)

27/08/15      Courts Young Lions 0-2 Home United (S.League)

23/08/15     Brunei DPMM 2-0 Courts Young Lions (S.League)

20/08/15     Geylang International 1-3 Courts Young Lions (S.League)

06/08/15     Courts Young Lions 0-1 Albirex Niigata (S) (S.League)

Brunei DPMM – WWLWD

16/09/15      Albirex Niigata (S) 0-0 Brunei DPMM (S.League)

12/09/15      Brunei DPMM 2-0 Harimau Muda (S.League)

29/08/15      Balestier Khalsa 2-1 Brunei DPMM (S.League)  

23/08/15      Brunei DPMM 2-0 Courts Young Lions (S.League)

19/08/15      Brunei DPMM 2-0 Warriors FC (S.League)

Head-to-Head (S.League)

23/08/15      Brunei DPMM 2-0 Courts Young Lions

26/07/15      Courts Young Lions 1 – 1 Brunei DPMM 

18/06/14      Courts Young Lions 2 – 3 Brunei DPMM

06/04/14      Brunei DPMM 6 – 1 Courts Young Lions

27/09/13      Courts Young Lions 2 – 3 Brunei DPMM