Buriram target away win at Pattaya, Muang Thong hope to tame Police at home

Buriram target away win at Pattaya, Muang Thong hope to tame Police at home

Buriram's Delvin Pinheiro, fourth left, during a training session.
Buriram's Delvin Pinheiro, fourth left, during a training session.

Former champions Buriram United are fancying their chances of adding three more points to their tally when they take on Pattaya United in an away Thai League 1 match today.

Buriram United wrested the top spot from arch-foes SCG Muang Thong United when the second half of the league kicked off last weekend. They now hold a two-point advantage over the Kirins.

Pattaya United manager Karn Jantarat, however, feels his men are capable of holding the Thunder Castle to a draw at the home ground.

He said: "We tested some new players in our FA Cup game on Wednesday, so we are ready for the Buriram match.

"We know that Buriram United are a very strong team, but we will not let them have an easy outing.

"We will be playing at our home ground so I believe one point is well within our reach. We will only be missing Chainarong Tathong who will be having a surgery on his ankle."

Buriram manager Tatthep Pitakpoolsin said: "We don't have any injured or suspended players so we will be able to field our best team. Every player is ready to play.

"We have left it to our coach [Bozidan Bandovic] to decide whether or not to play our new signing [Thai-Dutch right-back] Delvin Pinheiro.

"Our target is to win the match and claim three points."

Second-place Muang Thong United, meanwhile, host Police Tero anxiously needing a victory to avoid losing sight of leaders Buriram.

Santi Chaipluek, Muang Thong's assistant coach, said: "We have several new players in the team and it will take them some time to gel together with the old players.

"We have many good attacking players now in the team and it is only a matter of time before they get used to our tactics.

"Last game, we missed out on three points but this one will be at our home ground, so we have to go for a win. Tristan Do and Theerathon Bunmathan are suspended but we have their replacements ready.

"We are also expecting to give our new midfielder Charyl Chappuis his first start."

Police Tero manager Thanya Wongnak said: "It will be a difficult game for us but we hope to create a good result. We have a new coach and new tactics.

"We will be without Thanasak Srisai, who is suspended. Vicharn Nantasri might miss the match as well. We will try our best to get a point from this game."

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