By Song Sung Hai

Past Results
Tanjong Pagar 1-1 Tampines Rovers (S.League)
Tampines Rovers 4-2 Tanjong Pagar (RHB Singapore Cup)
Tanjong Pagar 1-4 Tampines Rovers (RHB Singapore Cup)

A lengthy two-week break has come and gone. It is not the first nor the last of such breaks and we now come back again to the S.League where the Jaguars will now travel to face the team that sent us out of the Singapore Cup, the Clementi Stags.

Tampines Rovers FC however had a rather indifferent run in the following League Cup group matches when they stumbled against both Geylang International and Warriors FC which saw them drop to the Plate competition, which they won, earning them the bragging rights as the best loser of the Starhub League Cup.

The high of the unbeaten run to the final of the Starhub League Cup was however marred by a narrow 2-1 defeat to Home United in our last S.League game which saw attacking lynchpins Kamel Ramdani and Monsef Zerka picking up red cards.

The cards meant that both Kamel and Monsef will miss tonight’s league clash but Patrick Vallée still possesses some attacking depth in his squad with Ahmad Latiff, Asraf Rashid and Firdaus Idros ready to strike. Sebastien Etiemble will also play and his passes from midfield will be crucial.

The Jaguars shook off some rust last week with a friendly game against Hong Kong’s newly promoted second tier side, Metro Gallery Sun Source FC. Playing on a heavily drenched pitch and muddy conditions, the Jaguars opted to stay free from injuries against a very motivated Hong Kong side who were eager to get some positives from their tour here in Singapore. Metro Gallery Sun Source won the game 4-2 against a Jaguars side content to try out several Prime League players for the second half.

Tampines Rovers FC will be keen to take all three points as it is an opportunity for them to move to the top of the S.League. They currently sit behind current leaders DPMM FC with one game in hand and only two points separating them.

The addition of the talented and versatile Jozef Kaplan has given the Stags more punch in attack and coupled with the lethality of Miljan Mrdakovic upfront, they do certainly possess a fearsome strike-force.

It will definitely be a match to savour as the Jaguars are eager to upset the title hopefuls whereas the home team will be inspired by their prospects and are eager to draw blood, though it must be noted that is a highly uncharacteristic trait of a grass guzzling mammal.

Head on down to Clementi Stadium tonight and add your will to the Jaguars as we try to withstand the likely barrage of assaults from the home side. Be there or be a quadrilateral thing!

See you there!