Duckie wary of wounded Portmore
Waterhouse FC coach Donovan Duckie said it is ‘key’ that his side win their rescheduled Red Stripe Premier League game against Portmore United this afternoon and get back into the top six in the league.
Waterhouse, on 38 points, came from behind to clip relegated Sandals South Coast 2-1 on Sunday. The win left them two points behind fifth-place Montego Bay United and one adrift of UWI FC, Harbour View and FC Reno. Duckie said how they assess and approach things, mentally, will be essential to their progress.
“We might be eighth, but we are just two points off fifth and have a game in hand against Portmore on Thursday, which is key. We win that game and we’re in fifth and the psychology changes, because they (other rivals for sixth place) will have to chase us. So I am very confident that we can do good away, although our away form is not pretty good,” he cautioned.
However, he added that getting three points against Portmore will require some doing. “It will be very difficult for us. I have a lot of respect for them, they have quality in their ranks. They have a culture, and we are doing what they have done and we want to emulate what they are doing, but it is going to be very difficult,” he said.
“The game will match us up, but we will have to influence it with and without possession. Hopefully with some hard work, we can leave with a positive result. If we don’t win, we need to leave with a result. It is important to keep in contention for top six and we are at a point where we want to be again. But the mental aspect is what we have to cope with, because we are chasing the pack now. We were in fifth before the tour, and now we are behind sixth place,” he said.
Portmore lead the league with 59 points, ahead of Arnett on 47. Despite leading the league by seven clear points, Portmore’s momentum has slowed in recent weeks, after tasting their third defeat in four matches. 3:30 p.m. – Portmore United vs Waterhouse FC at Spanish Town Prison Oval. 3:30 p.m. – Tivoli Gardens vs Arnett Gardens FC at Edward Seaga Complex.