Farhan Zulkifli will aim to help Hougang United get back to winning ways

SINGAPORE, 11 NOVEMBER 2020 – The AIA Singapore Premier League (SPL) continues, with Hougang United and Balestier Khalsa eager to bounce back from heavy defeats as they host Young Lions and Tampines Rovers respectively on Thursday. The following night will see Albirex Niigata (S) and Lion City Sailors looking to build on emphatic victories over the weekend as they face Geylang International and Tanjong Pagar United respectively. All LIVE on our Facebook page and YouTube channel!

 

ALSO READ: Week 9 Roundup

 

Cheetahs looking to end poor record at Hougang
Hougang United vs Young Lions | 12 Nov | 7.45pm | Hougang | Singtel Ch 112, StarHub Ch 204

Hami Syahin is back with the Young Lions

Team news: Apart from long-term casualties Sahil Suhaimi and M. Anumanthan, there are no fresh injury concerns for Hougang. With a hectic run of fixtures ahead, Cheetahs coach Clement Teo may opt to bring in the likes of Nikesh Singh, Afiq Noor and Shahfiq Ghani for this.

 

As for Young Lions, midfielder Hami Syahin could be in line to start after making his first appearance of the season off the bench in the last game while winger Marc Ryan Tan is expected to be back in the reckoning as well.

 

Facts

• Hougang won the last two encounters after losing five on the trot prior.
• Hougang have conceded at least one goal against Young Lions in the last seven encounters.
• The last time both sides met at Hougang Stadium in May 2018, Young Lions came from behind to win 2-1 with current Cheetah Naufal Azman scoring a 79th-minute winner.
• Hougang and Young Lions have both won just one out of their last five league games.
• Young Lions have failed to score in five out of seven matches this season.
• Hougang have yet to win in any of their last 15 league games at Hougang Stadium since a 2-1 win over Young Lions in September 2017.

 

Tigers keen to reclaim pride against Stags
Balestier Khalsa vs Tampines Rovers | 12 Nov | 7.45pm | Bishan | Singtel Ch 113, StarHub Ch 201

Kristijan Krajcek has scored in his last two games

Team news: Serbian centre-back Ensar Brunčević continues to miss out for Balestier due to injury, but left-back Ahmad Syahir is available again after serving a one-match suspension.

 

Meanwhile, there are no major personnel issues for Tampines as they target a return to winning ways.

 

Facts

• Balestier have not won against Tampines in the last 13 league encounters since a 4-3 victory at Toa Payoh back in November 2015.
• Balestier have conceded at least one goal against Tampines in the last nine encounters in all competitions.
• Balestier have scored in the second half in each of their last six games.
• Tampines have scored in 27 SPL games in a row.
• The last time Balestier lost 7-1 (against Brunei DPMM in April 2019), they held Tampines to a 1-1 draw at Bishan in the following match.
• Kristijan Krajček is looking to score in three successive games for Balestier for the first time.
• Balestier strikers Šime Žužul and Shuhei Hoshino have not scored in three straight games, with their last goals coming in the 2-2 draw against Hougang in March.

 

Eagles out to repeat 2019 heroics against White Swans
Geylang International vs Albirex Niigata (S) | 13 Nov | 7.45pm | Our Tampines Hub | Singtel Ch 111, StarHub Ch 202

Umar Akhbar (L) and Barry Maguire will helm the Geylang midfield

Team news: Geylang will miss the services of centre-back Adam Hakeem due to suspension, leaving either Shahrin Saberin or Kamolidin Tashiev to pair with captain Yuki Ichikawa at the heart of the Eagles defence.

 

As for Albirex, young Singaporean midfielder Iman Hakim and club top scorer Reo Nishiguchi remain unavailable due to injuries.

 

Facts

• Geylang won the last two league games at OTH in 2019 by identical 1-0 scorelines – Ichikawa and Zikos Chua scored late goals on the respective occasions.
• The last goal-less draw between both sides was back in March 2016 at Bedok – Ichikawa played the full 90 minutes and Safirul Sulaiman came on as a second-half substitute for Geylang, while Hiroyoshi Kamata came in for the final 14 minutes for Albirex.
• Albirex have failed to score in just one of seven matches this season.
• Geylang have scored in the last three games.
• Albirex’s Fairoz Hasan scored in his last start against former employers Geylang in a 5-2 defeat in April 2019 when he was still with Warriors FC.

 

Jaguars face unenviable visit to Bishan
Lion City Sailors vs Tanjong Pagar United | 13 Nov | 7.45pm | Bishan | Singtel Ch 112, StarHub Ch 201

Adam Swandi has been in good form of late

Team news: The Sailors may have to make do without first-choice custodian Hassan Sunny again after he missed the 7-1 win against Balestier through a finger injury.

 

For Tanjong Pagar, winger Ignatius Ang is out for the season and captain Faritz Hameed remains doubtful to face his former club. But experienced forward Zulkiffli Hassim is fit for selection again after missing last week’s 1-0 defeat to Geylang.

 

Facts

• Tanjong Pagar are win-less in the last eight encounters since beating the Sailors’ predecessor Home United 1-0 at Queenstown in April 2012.
• Tanjong Pagar’s last win at Bishan came all the way back on July 11, 1998 in a 2-0 victory.
• Tanjong Pagar have failed to score in four out of seven matches this season, including the last two.
• Tanjong Pagar failed to produce a shot on target for their last two matches.
• Tanjong Pagar are still waiting for their first win since defeating Harimau Muda B 5-0 in October 2014.
• There have been no first-half goals in each of Tanjong Pagar’s last four games.
• In the last seven games when he has scored, Sailors’ Stipe Plazibat has scored more than once (two hat-tricks, five braces).

 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!