Warriors FC vs Brunei DPMM

(Thursday, 5 May, Choa Chu Kang Stadium, 7.30pm)

Written by: Sebastian Lim

Winless in their previous two games, Brunei DPMM will be hoping for better fortunes on the road when they travel to the Choa Chu Kang Stadium to face Warriors FC on Thursday evening.

In their last two matches, the defending Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League champions have failed to make their home advantage count as they fell 2-1 to Albirex Niigata (S) and Geylang International at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.

This match represents a chance for Steve Kean’s charges to secure their first win away from home after only managing two draws and a defeat on the road.

Lying fifth in a nine-team league table, DPMM desperately need to chalk up more wins and move up the standings if they are to defend their league title. Against a Warriors side still searching for their first victory in five games, they stand a good chance of doing just that.

After a 2-0 win over Albirex in March, Warriors, a nine-time league champions, have gone on a downward spiral – drawing against Geylang before losing their next three games to Hougang United, Home United and Tampines Rovers.

While striker Jonathan Behe has been plundering in the goals upfront, Warriors’ defensive frailties have proved to be their undoing so far with 15 goals conceded after just nine games this season.

Unless they fix their leaky defence, they could be in for a long night against a DPMM front line led by Rafael Ramazotti who already has seven goals to his name.

When the two sides met earlier at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium this season, DPMM emerged 3-1 winners via goals from Brian McLean, Maududi Kasmi and Azwan Saleh while Behe replied for the visitors.

Warriors will however have to make do without first-choice goalkeeper Yazid Yasin who serves the first of his two-match ban while DPMM’s Sairol Sahari continues to miss out due to a serious knee injury.

Suspension: Yazid Yasin (Warriors FC)

Warriors FC – LLLDW

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)

01/04/16  Geylang International 2-2 Warriors FC (S.League)

18/03/16  Warriors FC 2-0 Albirex Niigata (S) (S.League)

Brunei DPMM – LLWWL

30/04/16  Brunei DPMM 1-2 Geylang International (S.League)

22/04/16  Brunei DPMM 1-2 Albirex Niigata (S) (S.League)

15/04/16  Brunei DPMM 3-1 Balestier Khalsa FC (S.League)

08/04/16  Brunei DPMM 4-0 Garena Young Lions (S.League)

19/03/16  Brunei DPMM 1-2 Tampines Rovers (S.League)

Head to Head (S.League)

27/2/16         Brunei DPMM 3-1 Warriors FC

06/11/15     Warriors FC 1-3 Brunei DPMM

19/08/15      Brunei DPMM 2-0 Warriors FC

24/04/15      Warriors FC 1-3 Brunei DPMM

07/10/14      Brunei DPMM 2-3 Warriors FC