THERE is no room for complacency when DPMM FC face Geylang International FC in the Singapore League (S-League) at the Bedok Stadium in Singapore tonight.
The Brunei side are riding high after dispatching leaders Albirex Niigata (S) FC 2-1 at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas on Friday.
The reigning champions are enjoying their best spell of the season with six wins in their last seven games in all competitions, and DPMM FC coach Steve Kean hopes that they can keep up their good form against Geylang.
DPMM FC are currently fourth in the nine-team table on 25 points, tied with Home United FC but on a poorer goal difference.
On the other hand, Geylang are four points behind and are two spots below.
“It is tricky (tie),” said Kean after a training session on Tuesday.
“We are playing well and our form is good. The task now is to maintain that but sometimes it is easy to get a bit complacent.
“To think, ‘Look at table to see where Geylang are and Albirex are. Now that we have beaten Albirex means we will automatically beat Geylang’… That is never the case,” added the Scotsman.
“We always have to maintain our standard. If we drop them, we will drop points against Geylang.
“If we maintain the form that we are in, application and work rate put in past few games, we will be confident. We can never be complacent or take our foot off the gas,” continued the former Blackburn Rovers manager.
Kean has been busy making tweaks to his side and he hopes that his players will be able to carry out his training ground instructions on the pitch tonight.
“We have been working on moving the ball quicker because I felt that at times we struggled to do so, especially in the two ties against Albirex is when they pressed us,” said Kean when met at the Jerudong Mini Stadium.
“Sometimes we took two touches when there is only time for one… Or we took three when there is only time for two.
“The main focus this week has been to try and move the ball before the opponent gets a chance to get a block in.
“We have been working on one-touch passing movements, and on the flipside, we worked on our pressing.
“We can do that better and it was a positive aspect against Albirex. If we can maintain that we will make it difficult for any team to string passes and beat us on possession.
“We beat Albirex on possession and it shows that our pressing is good. We have been maintaining that and what we had to work on is to move it faster,” continued the 48-year-old.
The Eagles went on a three-game winning streak to claim the Singapore League Cup Plate before falling to the Stags 2-1 in the S-League last Thursday.
One of the key reasons for their good performances has been the signing of Filipino Mark Hartmann late June.
He has found the back of the net in five of the eight appearances so far, including in three straight games.
Kean knows of the forward, who previously laced up for Global FC, but says DPMM FC will have to watch out for other players too.
“I’ve seen him and the thing is with Geylang is they’ve got lots of good personnel,” said Kean.
“It is tough going there because the pitch is normally hard. It is not conducive to passing the ball on the ground and we have to be more direct and get to the front.
“Geylang are a good team and we won’t take them lightly. But it is about us to keep the winning run going,” he concluded.
Portuguese forward Paulo Sergio will be serving his second of a two-game suspension.
Meanwhile, tonight’s other game will see Albirex take on the Garena Young Lions (Singapore national Under-21 football team) at the Jurong East Stadium in Singapore.
The Brunei Times
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