LIONSXII receive boost for PKNS tie

By ESPNSTAR.com staff

The Singaporean outfit are looking to get back to winning ways after falling to a 1-0 defeat at T-Team in Tuesday's Malaysia Super League encounter, a game which they had to play without several first-team players including the suspended Baihakki Khaizan and Fazrul Nawaz, as well as Safuwan Baharudin, who was unavailable due to national service commitments.

However, all three are available for Friday's trip to the Petaling Jaya Stadium, and Balagumaran admits they will provide some much-needed experience to the young LIONSXII side.

"Baihakki and Safuwan are back for this game, as is Fazrul," he said.

"Their presence will be a huge boost for the younger boys in the team."

Nonetheless, things will not be easy against a PKNS side that have recorded consecutive 1-0 victories in their three previous home games against V. Sundramoorthy's charges.

While Balagumaran refused to get too critical over his team's display in Tuesday's defeat, he did admit there would be a mental barrier for them to overcome against Friday's opponents.

"Everything [on Tuesday] went well according to our game plan," the ex-Gombak United boss added. "But this is football - things like that happen.

"We need to keep our focus and concentrate throughout the full 90 minutes.

"The boys will be thinking that PKNS are our bogey team having beaten us three times when we play them away. Psychologically, they will be affected if they think that way."

The LIONSXII will have a three-week break after Friday's game due to the round of international matches, and are back in action on February 16 when they entertain league leaders Pahang.