Balestier Khalsa vs Geylang International

(26 May, Friday, 7.30pm, Jalan Besar Stadium)

Written by: Phoon Jia Hui

Balestier Khalsa will look to put an end to their four-match losing run in the 2017 Great Eastern-Hyundai S.League when they take on Geylang International at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday night.

The Toa Payoh-based side fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Warriors FC in their last game, and head coach Marko Kraljevic is keen to see a better performance from his side especially in the attacking department.

“It’s very difficult when you lose four matches in a row but we don’t have much choice except to keep working hard,” he admitted.

“We must really improve in front of goal and in the final third. We need to create more chances and score. We can do better and that’s something we have been focusing in training over the last few weeks.

“The biggest problem we are facing right now is that we cannot score and we have to find a way to score if we want to win games.”

But the Tigers’ never-say-die attitude has given the Croatian something to be happy about.

“I’ve seen many good things from my team but the most important thing is that we don’t give up,” Kraljevic enthused.

“Even with nine men, I could see that my players were still closing down the Warriors players and that’s one positive we can take. I believe we can do something if we keep working like this.

“Apart from our defeat to Geylang (0-2) in our first encounter this season and Albirex Niigata (S) (0-3), we have not lost matches by more than a goal which shows that we can be tight at the back.”

With a RHB Singapore Cup 2017 Preliminary Round tie against Cambodia’s Nagaworld FC looming, Kraljevic believes collecting all three points here would do his team’s confidence a world of good.

“At the moment it’s very tough for us but we need one win and all will be good,” he said.

“If we can win, it’ll be good motivation for the boys especially when we have a cup game coming up on Wednesday.”

Kraljevic will be without the defensive duo of Huzaifah Aziz and Sheikh Abdul Hadi who were both sent off against Warriors, but he is confident the rest can step up and do a job.

“The situation is not that bad,” he said.

“I’ve players who can come in and replace them; Ahmad (Syahir) will return and play on the left while Hanafi (Salleh) can fill in for Hadi so that’s not too big a problem.

“Everyone else are available and are ready to play in this match.”

Suspensions: Huzaifah Aziz, Sheikh Abdul Hadi (both Balestier Khalsa)

Balestier Khalsa – WLLLL

19/05/17 Warriors FC 1-0 Balestier Khalsa

02/05/17 Home United 1-0 Balestier Khalsa

27/04/17 Hougang United 1-0 Balestier Khalsa

21/04/17 Balestier Khalsa 0-3 Albirex Niigata (S)

07/04/17 Balestier Khalsa 2-1 Brunei DPMM

Geylang International – WWLLD

20/05/17 Geylang International 1-1 Hougang United

11/05/17 Geylang International 0-1 Albirex Niigata (S)

28/04/17 Home United 3-0 Geylang International

20/04/17 Geylang International 2-0 Brunei DPMM

15/04/17 Garena Young Lions 0-2 Geylang International

Head to Head (S.League)

04/03/17 Geylang International 2-0 Balestier Khalsa

25/08/16 Geylang International 2-1 Balestier Khalsa

14/05/16 Balestier Khalsa 1-3 Geylang International

03/03/16 Geylang International 0-0 Balestier Khalsa

18/09/15 Balestier Khalsa 2-2 Geylang International