Written by: Alex Weaver
Tampines Rovers v Hougang United
(Friday, 26th February, 7.45pm, Jalan Besar Stadium)
Hougang United will go into Friday’s Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League LIVE match at Jurong West Stadium with Tampines Rovers buoyed by their hard-working display against Home United in their previous outing, which they won 1-0.
Tampines are also in high spirits following their AFC Cup Group E victory against Bangladeshi champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club on Tuesday evening.
The 4-0 victory saw Tampines’ star-studded frontline clinically cut open their opponents defence and will surely provide Hougang’s head coach K. Balagumaran (Bala) with some concern.
“The same team (that beat Home United) deserves another crack, but because of Tampines strengths, I need to do some changes,” said Bala.
“You know their strengths, they have good height, good speedy wingers left and right.”
Hougang will probably have an advantage in terms of freshness given the Stags’ Asian exploits, as the latter will only have two days of recovery before the encounter.
However, with Tampines head coach V.Sundramoorthy rotating his squad in the AFC Cup, it is likely that most of his squad will be fully prepared.
Tampines escaped without any injury scares on Tuesday, but Stags head coach V. Sundramoorthy started with only four players that were selected to face Warriors FC in their previous S.League match which was abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch.
The rotation indicates that Tampines will be at full strength for the clash with Hougang with the exception of Noh Rahman and Yasir Hanapi, who are still to serve their one league match suspensions.
“We have to have fresh legs for the game against Hougang on Friday so we rotated the players tonight,” Sundram said following Rovers’ 4-0 AFC Cup win on Tuesday evening.
“We have a difficult game coming up and we need to help our players to prepare properly,” he added.
Following frustrations against Geylang International (3-3) and an abandoned match against Warriors FC last Friday, Tampines will be favourites to get their S.League campaign finally up and running but it’s likely that they wont have it as comfortable as they did on Tuesday evening.
M. Anumanthan is Hougang’s only doubt from the side that beat Home United. The combative midfielder is currently nursing a groin injury and was rested from training ahead of Friday’s clash.
Fumiya Kogure is expected to be out for another six weeks with an ankle injury but beside the Japanese star, the Cheetahs should be at full strength.
Key Men To Watch
Tampines Rovers: Jermaine Pennant
Hougang United will likely put up a stubborn defensive display on Friday with their back line and midfielders no doubt repeating their tireless midfield pressing to reduce the space in which Tampines’ star forwards need to create scoring chances.
As a result, the Stags may well have to be patient before finding their first goal and the Englishman’s flair and creativity would be ideal in this kind of situation.
His simple passing has that extra bit of quality than those of most players. He fires in laser-like short passes giving the anticipating defenders no chance at intercepting. He guides longer passes through the smallest of gaps to find teammates racing through on goal.
On Friday night, Jermaine Pennant may just be the keymaster who has the keys to unlock Hougang’s bolted door.
Hougang United: M. Anumanthan
Last Thursday in their win against Home United, Anumanthan dominated against Singapore International Zulfahmi Arifin.
He went about his work with such tenacity and consistency, that he visibly frustrated Zulfahmi in the final 20 minutes with the former LionsXII star throwing his arms in the air following one of many challenges on him from the Hougang midfielder.
Only complacency or an injury can prevent this young man from putting in the kind of performances that will no doubt force Bernd Stange to consider him for a regular place in the Singapore national team.
Tampines Rovers – WDLDW
23/02/16 Tampines Rovers 4-0 Sheikh Jamal (AFC Cup)
15/02/16 Tampines Rovers 3-3 Geylang
27/01/15 Mohun Bagan 3-1 Tampines Rovers (ACL)
21/11/15 Tampines Rovers 1-1 Harimau Muda
13/11/15 Albirex Niigata (S) 0-1 Tampines Rovers
Hougang United – WLDLDL
18/02/16 Hougang United 1-0 Home United
20/11/15 Albirex Niigata (S) 1-0 Hougang United
09/11/15 Geylang International 2-2 Hougang United
06/11/15 Hougang United 1-2 Harimau Muda
01/11/15 Hougang United 1-1 Balestier Khalsa
Head to Head (S.League)
17/10/15 Tampines Rovers 1-0 Hougang United
24/07/15 Hougang United 0-3 Tampines Rovers
18/03/15 Tampines Rovers 2-0 Hougang United
19/06/14 Tampines Rovers 1-1 Hougang United
05/04/14 Hougang United 4-2 Tampines Rovers
