By Song Sung Hai

Last season’s results
Warriors 1-6 TPUFC
TPUFC 2-1 Warriors

It is essential that the Jaguars forget the unfortunate result last week as we host the Warriors tomorrow night at Queenstown Stadium. Head Coach Patrick Vallee won both encounters against the Warriors last year, including a 6-1 demolition at Choa Chu Kang Stadium, and he will want the team to continue that run.

The capitulation against Albirex last week has temporarily confined us to the bottom half of the league in tenth place and the Jaguars know they are a better team than that. The Jaguars enjoyed superior possession in our last game against Albirex but a chronic hesitance and profligacy in front of goal allowed the White Swans to sneak back into the game and ultimately steal the win.

Sebastien Etiemble put in an impressive display last week with precise passing and vision which, combined with Monsef Zerka’s skill and flair, had the Albirex defence in sixes and sevens. Such a display will not be lost on the Warriors as they surely will prepare for the offensive threat these two will pose.

Firdaus Idros and Asraf Rashid will also be eager to put in another round of hard work and speed down the flanks in support.

Sazali ‘SuperSaz’ Salleh and midfield tank Tengku ‘T-15’ Mushadad gave such a stout performance last week that they forced the White Swans down Route One in order to reach our final third of the pitch. Masrezwan Masturi impressed upon coming back from suspension and his searching balls from deep find their targets with accuracy.

Captain Hafiz Osman and Anthony Aymard may not have had the best of reunions last week but they defended gallantly for most parts of the game and will definitely step up their game tomorrow.

The Warriors currently sit in third place on the table amidst a playing revolution conjured by Alex Weaver which no one saw coming, especially with a less than stellar pre-season preparations. They come to Queenstown Stadium undefeated in four games and their morale will be high.

Part of the reason for their success can also be attributed to Miroslav Pejic, who joined the Warriors without much fanfare but has six goals to his name in six games. The six-feet tall Croatian will definitely be the main threat in the Warriors’ arsenal and will need to be subdued.

Head Coach Patrick Vallee knows the most important thing for the team is to try to bounce back after the Albirex game.

“We had a good game against Albirex and I still think we didn’t deserve to lose. We must also ask some questions why we lost,” he reflected. “Maybe we didn’t do our duties well, in defence and attack, then at the end we pay for it.”

Noting that the Jaguars will be playing at home, Patrick Vallee stressed the importance of showing the fans the standard of his lads’ playing style.

He summed up, “We will be playing hard for our fans at home. We know that a good game played without getting results is not good so there will be changes in our approach defensively and also with regards to accuracy in front of goal. My players are raring to bounce back and give their best for Tanjong Pagar United.”

Every game is crucial for the Jaguars now in our quest to claw our way back up where we belong and the Warriors will try to thwart that attempt. Fans can expect this game to be an explosive affair as the English-led Warriors pit their skills against the French flair of the Jaguars!

See you there!