Written by: Kenneth Ho

Goran Ljubojevic’s fourth minute strike was all that separated Balestier Khalsa and Tanjong Pagar United in the clash at Toa Payoh stadium as the Tigers walked away with a 1-0 victory.

Balestier coach Marko Kraljevic felt that his team could have done better in the match, but insisted the ability to earn wins while not playing well is a trademark of a championship team.

“Very tough game, we started very promisingly, score the goal very early, but honestly we didn’t play well,” Kraljevic said.

“But this is quality of a good team, you don’t play well you [still] win. Lousy teams lose [if they don’t play well].”

Ljubojevic’s spectacular dipping shot from distance and Balestier’s defence pleased Kraljevic, but he insisted it was a team effort.

“They (the defence) play every game well, but I think midfield we can improve, attacking we can improve,” he said.

“But we are talking about the whole team; you are playing in one team, it is defending [starts from upfront] from Goran [Ljubojevic], and starting attack from [the goalkeeper] Zaiful [Nizam] .

Tanjong Pagar United coach Patrick Vallee felt hard done by Ljubojevic’s goal, as he felt his side played the better football in the game, even when his team had Masrezwan Masturi sent off in the 54th minute.

“We were unlucky because they didn’t create chances and they lead the game 1-0 after three minutes,” Vallee lamented.

“But you can see 10-man versus 11 who played football and tried to create but in the end the result is against us.”

“We start the game we want to be focus and everything but after three minute 1-0, you must move back and I am happy because my team never play long ball.”

Vallee also has several players out through injury, but the tactician refused to use it as an excuse and hinted that he would make adjustments to get his team back to winning ways.

“In a few weeks I cannot do anything for my injured players, so I need to adapt, but I do not want to play ugly football,” he said.

“But just to work well work hard [and suffer] a loss is not fair so we must change something.”