Hodak demands Kelantan improvement

By FOX Sports staff

The Red Warriors, who have been Malaysian football's dominant side over the past two years with their back-to-back league triumphs, have had an awful start to 2013 and are currently 8th on the table after Friday's 2-0 loss to Selangor.

In total, they have won just one of their opening six games, an unconvincing 2-1 win over PKNS FC which came on the opening day of the campaign, and have found the net just three times.

Having lost two of last season's stars, Norshahrul Idlan Talaha and Nurul Azwan Roya, to big-spending Darul Takzim, Kelantan have looked a shadow of their former selves and Hodak admits they need to improve soon to have any chance of salvaging their year, starting with Tuesday's East Coast derby against Terengganu.

"We cannot win matches if we continue to perform badly," he told the New Straits Times.

"We are not championship material yet but I believe we can turn things around as the league is only six matches old. However we need to start winning consistently to finish respectably."

Hodak also admitted he could be force to dip his hand into the transfer market when the window opens in April if his team continue their toothless ways up front.

"We definitely lack a quality striker," he added. "If we don't improve, we will definitely make changes during the transfer window."

Following their win over Kelantan, Selangor currently find themselves on top of the table but face another tricky test when they visit ATM, who salvaged a point on Saturday after Nofazly Alias' 89th-minute equaliser earned them a 1-1 draw at Negri Sembilan.

Surprise package Pahang will be looking to bounce back from only their second defeat of the year on when they visit Perak, and coach Dollah Salleh is hoping his players can use Saturday's 3-0 loss to LIONSXII as a wake-up call.

"At least everybody now has to wake up [after the loss]," he said. "We were standing on top of the rest and to suddenly be beaten 3-0 is very tough.

"But at least it is a lesson for my players. We still have to go on for the next match and that's my focus."

LIONSXII, who are now second on the table, travel across the Causeway to the Tan Sri Dato Hj Hassan Yunos Stadium for a mouthwatering clash against Darul Takzim, who are coached by legendary Singapore striker Fandi Ahmad.

Elsewhere, T-Team entertain FELDA United in the day's only afternoon kick-off, while bottom-placed Negri Sembilan visit PKNS FC.

Tuesday's Malaysia Super League Fixtures

T-Team vs FELDA United

Perak vs Pahang

PKNS FC vs Negri Sembilan

Kelantan vs Terengganu

Darul Takzim vs LIONSXII

ATM vs Selangor