SINGAPORE - Brunei DPMM are enjoying their lofty position at the summit of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) with a third of the season gone, but coach Adrian Pennock does not believe his side will go through the entire campaign unbeaten.
With seven wins and two draws, DPMM are the only team yet to taste defeat this term. They lead second-placed Albirex Niigata, last year's champions, by six points.
The Bruneian side will look to extend their excellent run when they take on third-from-bottom Geylang International at the Our Tampines Hub on Saturday (May 11) night.
However, when asked if his side could emulate Albirex's feat in 2018 when they did not lose a league game, Pennock said: "It's not impossible, but we've played every team now, and it'll be very, very difficult to do.
"Every game we played, maybe except (a 7-1 win over) Balestier where they had injuries to key players, hasn't been a walkover, so it'll be a very tall order to go unbeaten all the way through.
"We're just enjoying the moment, but we know we've got to lose sometime, and maybe soon."
The Englishman, who was formerly assistant to Tony Pulis at Premier League side Stoke City, added: "Obviously it's great to be sitting nicely at the top of the tree, but we're there to be shot at."
Pennock, 48, pointed to the fitness work done in pre-season last December - he took his players on daily runs on the hills and in the jungles of Bandar Seri Begawan - as being key to the team's current success.
His foreign imports have also shone. Former Belarus international striker Andrei Varankou is the SPL's leading scorer with 12 goals, while Australian midfielder Blake Ricciuto has also shone, scoring four goals in the last five games.
"The important thing for us has been hard work," said Pennock.
"We have got players who can score goals and win games on their own, but everybody works hard for each other.
"And I think we can still improve. We're not the finished article right now, for sure."
The odds are stacked against Geylang, whose coach Noor Ali faces a major selection headache.
Four players Barry Maguire, Syahiran Miswan, Noor Ariff and Darren Teh are suspended while former Singapore internationals Firdaus Kasman (calf) and Christopher van Huizen (back) are struggling with injuries. Key attacker Shawal Anuar is not match fit after recovering from a serious knee injury.
Noor Ali named six Under-23 players in his starting 11 in last Saturday's 2-0 defeat by Albirex, and said he might have to field even more youngsters against DPMM.
"With our injuries and suspensions this is not the best time to face DPMM, who are one of the most consistent teams in the league," he said.
"But this is an opportunity for my young boys to show if they are able to put in consistent performances. And they are willing to play hard and compete."
Referring to the recent Champions League comebacks by Liverpool and Tottenham Hostpur, Noor Ali quipped: "There have been two big upsets in football already this week. Maybe our game could be the third?"
Football: Jurgen Klopp hails his 'talented giants' for stunning win against 'maybe the best team in the world'
Football: Jurgen Klopp mentality behind Liverpool's historic
West Ham's Michail Antonio inflicts Spurs' first defeat at new stadium. The goal made West Ham the first side to win in Tottenham's new stadium. "It is a fight, it is a race, with two
Spurs beaten for first time in new stadium; Saints stay up
Hammers pack a punch: Klopp LONDON • West Ham may have a raft of injury problems, with a number of key players either missing or rated touch and go, but Jurgen Klopp is not taking their trip to the London Stadium lightly as their opponents are "nearly a top-six side".
Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool players needed hammer to 'punch
Singapore-based Australian DJ Adam Sky was found dead in a luxury resort in Bali on Saturday (May 4). Australian news outlet Nine News said that the body of the 42-year-old DJ, whose real name is Adam Neat, was found in a pool of blood around 10am that day at the Hillstone Villas Resort.
Football Association of Singapore - spl.sg
spl.sg/singapore-premier-league-week-10-roundup/
SINGAPORE, 6 MAY 2019 - Brunei DPMM were arguably the biggest winners over the weekend as they extended their lead at the top of the table to six points thanks to their victory over Home United, coupled with Tampines Rovers and Hougang United cancelling each other out.
Valencia will face Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey after a 1-0 second-leg win over Real Betis secured a 3-2 aggregate semi-final victory. Rodrigo Moreno's goal early in the second half
Copa del Rey Final - LIVE! Barcelona vs Valencia
Pakistan did not qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, being eliminated by Bangladesh in the first round of the AFC qualifying section, losing the first game 3-0, but drawing 0-0 in the return game, being 3-0 as the aggregate score. In 2014, Pakistan played a 2 match friendly series with India.
Philippines women's national football team - Howling Pixel
Mourinho demanded the full payout, with more than £40m due on the new four-year contract that had been announced, deliberately, one day before the start of their Premier League defence against
Manchester United sack Mourinho - espn.com
Football: 2018 World Cup watched by record 3.5 billion people
Ten-man Schalke draw blank ahead of Manchester City clash in
LONDON (REUTERS) - Defender Jan Vertonghen scored once and set up another goal for Son Heung-min as Tottenham Hotspur beat Borussia Dortmund 3-0 at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday (Feb 13) to give them the clear edge following the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie.
Vertonghen shines as Tottenham beat Dortmund 3-0 - Football
Football: Valencia stroll into Europa League last four with 2
Second half goals from Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer match a Manchester United record set by Matt Busby. Premier League: Newcastle United 0 Manchester United 2 | Goal
Romelu Lukaku scores with first touch as Manchester United
Apr 29, 2019 · Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Vivianne Miedema of Arsenal have been crowned Professional Footballers' Association players of the year for the 2018-19 season, with Manchester City's Raheem
Football: Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Arsenal's Vivianne
virginiabus.info/sports/football-liverpools-virgil-van-dijk-and-arsenals-vivianne-miedema-win-pfa-player-of-year-awards/
LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk was named as England's PFA Player of the Year for 2019 on Sunday (April 28). Van Dijk succeeded Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah in winning the award, voted for by his fellow players and saw off competition from Manchester City striker Raheem Sterling.
Liverpool's Van Dijk wins PFA player of year award - Khaleej
Liverpool's result at Bayern won't affect Premier League bid - Klopp 19.35 Mo Salah: "I'll be honest with you, the most prestigious competition for me is the Champions League.
Liverpool's win over Bayern Munich will HELP Premier League
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar