Eagles seek consistency

For the past five weeks, Geylang United have been blowing hot and cold.

Just over a month ago, the bottom-placed Eagles shocked everyone when they beat league leaders Balestier Khalsa 3-1.

That win was thought to herald better times.

But, in their next match, Geylang crashed 1-0 to Tanjong Pagar, currently bottom of the table, before being humbled 5-1 at home by Tampines Rovers.

They bounced back with a 2-0 win over the Courts Young Lions, but once again came unstuck against Gombak United last Sunday.

Said Geylang coach V Kanan: "We've not defended set-pieces well and we need to improve our attacking aspect of the game.

"But the squad, including the foreigners, is a young one and we're still learning."

That, however, is no excuse for their lack of consistency, said Eagles skipper Yazid Yasin.

"The young players have to learn fast. They have to know that a win does not make us world-beaters, and we have to keep our heads and work hard for the results," he said.

Geylang are expected to have a full squad available for tonight's clash with Albirex - a team that Kanan is wary of.

"They play very well as a team, as shown when they beat (defending champions) Tampines," he said. "We can expect them to run at us, and come here to attack."

Albirex are still on a high following their 1-0 win over Tampines last week.

But team manager Koh Mui Tee stressed that the White Swans will not underestimate their opponents.

"Geylang are the only team who have beaten league leaders Balestier, so there is no room for complacency against them," he said.

"Other than Musashi Okuyama, who is suspended, we have a fresh squad to choose from and we will look to play our fast-flowing attacking football as we always do."

This article was first published in The New Paper.