1 week ago
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HUMBLE LION will look to stretch their unbeaten run at home to seven games in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) when they go up against fourth-placed Portmore United at the Effortville Community Centre at 3:30 p.m today.
The Clarendon team are also aiming to pull further away from the relegation zone, and coach Alex Thomas is hoping they can continue their good form.
“We know Portmore are a very good team but my players are up for the challenge. So we will be going for the three points and, if we can’t get three, we will take one,” he declared.
“We have been doing very well at home, and we are hoping that continues. The home fans have been giving us a lot of confidence and we hope we can pick up another good result at home,” he said.
Nevertheless, he expects it will be a difficult match against the former champions.
“Portmore is a good team with quality players. So they will be difficult to play against them, but the players believe, and we as coaches believe, we can get the result we want,” he added.
Humble Lion, with 32 points, sit three points and one place clear of the relegation zone in 12th place. Portmore have 57 points.
Meanwhile, leaders Mount Pleasant looked to be back at their best in their last match against Vere United, and are highly favoured to take the full points away to Harbour View.
Mount Pleasant have 72 points, six clear of Arnett Gardens in second. While Harbour View are 11th in the table on 32 points.
Defending champions and fifth-placed Cavalier, who have been dropping points lately and are slipping closer into the battle for the top six, will want to consolidate their position for play-off spots, with a win over last-placed Vere.
Vere have five losses in their last six games and eight defeats in their last 10.
Technical director Craig Butler says his charges have shown heart but must continue to fight for the remainder of the season.
“I think they are doing the best they can right now. It has been a good baptism in this league. [This is] big man football and I think it has done well for them,” he said.
“It’s a humbling experience for us and for me. I don’t know what it is to really lose that much. They say wisdom is the summation of many small failures. So I guess I am learning wisdom here. And I am grateful for the opportunity to play in this league and we are going to fight to stay in it. The Lord blesses those who help themselves, and that’s what we have to do, we have to help ourselves.”
Vere sit at the foot of the table on 23 points, while Cavalier are on 50 points, three more than sixth-placed Tivoli, four in front of Waterhouse and five ahead of Racing, who are all hunting for a top-six play-off spot.
Waterhouse have a great chance to take over sixth, with Racing and Tivoli not playing until tomorrow, and they should fancy their chances against Molynes, who have gone seven games without a win and are second from last place on 29 points.
At Catherine Hall, hosts Montego Bay United, will look to shake off a run of three straight draws but will fancy their chances against Dunbeholden. Dunbeholden have picked up just one point from their last eight matches.
MoBay, who trail Arnett Gardens on goal difference, can return to second with a point or a win.
Dunbeholden are 10th on 33 points.
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