Written by: Shawn Lim

Home United vs Tampines Rovers
(Saturday, 10 September, 7.30pm, Bishan Stadium)

Tampines Rovers will be seeking to cut Albirex Niigata (S) lead at the the summit of the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League table when they pay Home United a visit at Bishan Stadium on Saturday night.

The White Swans currently have a four-point advantage over the Stags and with only five games left in the league, Akbar Nawas’ charges know that they cannot afford anymore slip-ups at this crucial juncture in the title race.

Tampines fell to a 2-1 defeat to Hougang United at home in their last league game before the international break, but two hard fought wins over Ceres La Salle to book their place in the RHB Singapore Cup final since then would have restored the Stags’ confidence.

However, the Stags are hampered by injuries and suspension to key players when they face the Protectors as they will be without Fabian Kwok, Shahdan Sulaiman, Fazrul Nawaz and Billy Mehmet, who will serve the first of his two-match suspension.

As for the Protectors, new coach Aidil Sharin has enjoyed a mixed fortunes since the start of his tenure, with a convincing 3-0 victory over Warriors FC, before watching his side let slip a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 to Hougang.

Home are also having their own injury crisis at the moment, especially in defence, with defenders Abdil Qaiyyim, R.Aaravin, Ang Zhi Wei and Sim Teck Yi all out and will field a makeshift backline against the Stags.

The good news for Aidil is that he will probably get to call on Khairul Nizam, as well as Irfan Fandi, who can now play on a more frequent basis after finishing his basic training in national service.

The Protectors have already registered a win over the Stags when the two sides met back in May, and will be looking to complete a double over Akbar’s charges on Saturday night.

Suspension: Billy Mehmet (Tampines Rovers)

Home United – LDLWL

12/08/16  Hougang United 4-2 Home United (S.League)
04/08/16  Home United 3-0 Warriors (S.League)
26/07/16  Brunei DPMM 1-0 Home United (League Cup)
22/07/16  Balestier Khalsa 2-2 Home United (League Cup)
18/07/16  Geylang International 0-5 Home United (League Cup)

Tampines Rovers – WWLWW

24/08/16  Ceres La Salle 2-3 Tampines Rovers (Singapore Cup)
21/08/16  Tampines Rovers 2-1 Ceres La Salle (Singapore Cup)
17/08/16  Tampines Rovers 1-2 Hougang United (S.League)
12/08/16  Warriors FC 2-3 Tampines Rovers (S.League)
04/08/16  Tampines Rovers 2-1 Geylang International (S.League)

Head to Head (S.League)

13/05/16  Tampines Rovers 1-2 Home United
03/03/16  Home United 1-1 Tampines Rovers
08/11/15  Home United 2-3 Tampines Rovers
17/05/15  Tampines Rovers 3-0 Home United
13/03/15  Home United 2-0 Tampines Rovers