DPMM FC's Shahrazen Said (L) goes after the ball during an earlier match against Tanjong Pagar FC. Both teams will clash tonight at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas. BT file
DPMM FC will go into tonight's match against Tanjong Pagar FC with caution as they look to extend their Singapore League (S-League) lead at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
Brunei's only professional football club are four points ahead of second and third placed Warriors FC and Tampines Rovers after the two battled to a 3-3 draw at the Clementi Stadium in Singapore last night. The league leaders currently sit on 25 points and boast a game in hand over their closest rivals.
They will also be out to extend their five-game win streak against 10th placed Tanjong Pagar tonight but DPMM FC head coach Steve Kean is not allowing his squad to underestimate their opponents. Kean insists the team will be vigilant and highlighted that it is dangerous should they take their foot off the pedal.
"We are top of the league but we have to be careful with these type of games. If we don't take them seriously then it will be a disadvantage for us," said Kean. "If we are not fit then we might lose on counter attacks. Keeping a clean sheet is our first objective. We have to stop the goals from coming and concentrate on scoring goals ourselves," he added.
"We might make one or two changes for the games in order to rest some players," continued the Scotsman. Asked if there was any added pressure that they are top of the table, Kean replied: "It can be difficult for a team but for us we should not fear the pressure but enjoy it as it can bring the best out of the players."
Marquee signing Roy O'Donovan doesn't expect an easy outing and is hoping that the team play to their potential. "It will be a difficult game. Performance needs to be there and we cannot underestimate these kind of games," said O'Donovan.
"We expect some more goals... Who scores the most goals doesn't matter just as long as the team wins and I hope the football will stay great," added the Irishman. Tanjong Pagar head coach Patrick Vallee knows that it will be a difficult task to topple the Brunei side but is looking to put up a good fight against the hosts.
"We expect to get good results for every game but we also know that DPMM FC are performing very well right now - both at home and away," said Vallee. "We are missing a few players and that is a problem for us. We know that it will be difficult but we will try whatever we can to win," he said.
"We didn't come here to lose and go back to Singapore. It would be better to just stay back home if we came with that mindset. "We are competitors and we will see how the game goes," concluded the Frenchman.
Kick off is at 8.15pm. Last night's other match saw Albirex Niigata S beat Geylang International FC 4-2 at the Jurong East Stadium.
