Written by: Joshua Liu

Brunei DPMM vs Hougang United
(Saturday, 14 May, 8.15pm, Bandar Seri Begawan)

It promises to be an entertaining match between Brunei DPMM and Hougang United when they take to the field at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium tonight as the two teams are separated by a mere two points in the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League.

Hougang are in fourth position on 17 points while DPMM are a spot below on 15 points. The previous encounter between the two earlier in the season saw both teams settling for a goalless draw.

For DPMM coach Steve Kean, the Scot has thrown a challenge to his team to avoid defeat in their remaining S.League matches if they are to lift the S.League title.

“We need to build up momentum, and I think we need to go unbeaten until the end of the season – starting this weekend at home,” said Kean in an interview with Brunei Times.

“We can’t just be relaxed and think that there are 13 games to go. In all honesty, we need to win 11 of them if we want to retain or go close to the title,” added the former Blackburn Rovers manager.

If the Wasps are to secure maximum points against the Cheetahs, they would certainly need to put out a better performance compared to their last outing against the Warriors, in which they could only muster a point at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium.

For Hougang’s coach K.Balagumaran, his side are going into this match on the back of a confidence-boosting draw against powerhouse Tampines Rovers despite playing the second-half with a man down after Wahyudi Wahid was sent off before the half-time break.

While the Cheetahs will be missing the services of S.League 2015 Player of the Year Fumiya Kogure due to injury, Balagumaran can call on Iqbal Hussain to continue his partnership with Stipe Plazibat in the final third.

“I took a gamble with Iqbal and I’m glad it paid off – it was a good finish considering the pressure we were under,” said Balagumaran after their match against Tampines in which Iqbal came off the bench in the second-half to score the equaliser.

“Also, brilliant goalkeeping by Khairulhin today. If not for him, we might have lost the game.”

Brunei DPMM – WWLLD

05/05/16  Warriors FC 1-1 Brunei DPMM
30/04/16  Brunei DPMM 1-2 Geylang International
22/04/16  Brunei DPMM 1-2 Albirex Niigata (S)
15/04/16  Brunei DPMM 3-1 Balestier Khalsa FC
08/04/16  Brunei DPMM 4-0 Garena Young Lions

Hougang United – LWWWD

04/05/16  Hougang United 1-1 Tampines Rovers
29/04/16  Home United 3-2 Hougang United
14/04/16  Warriors 0-1 Hougang United
07/04/16  Hougang United 3-1 Geylang International
02/04/16  Albirex Niigata FC (S) 2-0 Hougang United

Head to Head (S.League)

04/03/16 Hougang United 0-0 Brunei DPMM
20/10/15 Hougang United 1-2 Brunei DPMM
29/07/15 Brunei DPMM 1-1 Hougang United
04/04/15 Hougang United 2-3 Brunei DPMM
03/08/14 Brunei DPMM 2-2 Hougang United