Written by: Shawn Lim

Warriors FC vs Tampines Rovers
(Tuesday, 17 May, 7.30pm, Choa Chu Kang Stadium)

A troubled Warriors FC will welcome Tampines Rovers to Choa Chu Kang Stadium on Tuesday night in week 14 of the 2016 Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League.

Warriors have decided to part ways with coach Jorg Steinebrunner after the club lost four of their last six games, with their last win coming in a 2-0 victory over Albirex Niigata on March 18.

The nine-times S.League champions most recent defeat was to Garena Young Lions, who prior to the game, hadn’t won in 10 games. The 3-1 loss proved to be the final straw for the club and Steinbrunner stepped down after that.

Prime League coach Razif Onn has been tasked to take charge of first-team affairs for the rest of the season and his immediate priority will be to ensure the club put together a string of good results to achieve their target of a top three finish.

Meanwhile, Tampines are faring no better on the results front as the Stags have yet to win a league game in May, drawing with Hougang United before losing to Home United after taking the lead.

V.Sundramoorthy’s charges are now five points behind league leaders Albirex Niigata (S), who are looking unstoppable at the moment and does not look like they will be caught any time soon.

Tampines can make up for lost ground when they visit Warriors, whom they defeated 4-2 in the reverse fixture three weeks ago.

However, Sundram has expressed his concerns that the lack of rest will be a factor for his players, as the Warriors game will be their third game in a space of a week.

“I’m concerned about [having] too many games in a short period of time,” he said after his side’s 2-1 loss to the Protectors.

“It’s going to be tough on us but we need to recover and come back.

“With this defeat my boys are down and I think we need to lift up their confidence and be positive for the next game.”

Warriors will welcome back Yazid Yasin from suspension, while the Stags will be without the services of Shahdan Sulaiman, who is out for three months after an operation.

Jordan Webb and Jermaine Pennant will most likely be fully-fit and are set return to the starting line-up after coming off the bench or play in recent league games.

Warriors FC – LLLDL

12/05/16  Garena Young Lions 3-1 Warriors FC (S.League)
05/05/16  Warriors FC 1-1 Brunei DPMM (S.League)
30/04/16  Tampines Rovers 4-2 Warriors FC (S.League)
22/04/16  Warriors FC 1-2 Home United (S.League)
14/04/16  Warriors FC 0-1 Hougang United (S.League)

Tampines Rovers – WWDWL

13/05/16  Tampines Rovers 1-2 Home United (S.League)
10/05/16  Tampines Rovers 1-0 Selangor FA (AFC Cup)
04/05/16  Hougang United 1-1 Tampines Rovers (S.League)
30/04/16  Tampines Rovers 4-2 Warriors FC (S.League)
21/04/16  Geylang International 0-1 Tampines Rovers (S.League)

Head to Head (S.League)

30/04/16  Tampines Rovers 4-2 Warriors FC
02/11/15  Tampines Rovers 0-0 Warriors FC
07/08/15  Warriors FC 2-1 Tampines Rovers
17/04/15  Tampines Rovers 2-3 Warriors FC
23/10/14  Warriors FC 2-1 Tampines Rovers