City look to set record straight
REVENGE: BIG LOSS TO STARS BLOTCH ON THEIR RECORD
Johnson has done his best to ensure that Dikwena are up for the challenge after trip to Ivory Coast.
Cape Town City have a chance of revenge against Platinum Stars in Phokeng this evening, as Eric Tinkler’s team look to go back to the top of the Absa Premiership.
City faced Stars in the Mother City in the first round of the league in November, just three days after their Telkom Knockout final victory over SuperSport United in Polokwane. And there were clearly some tired legs in the City set up, as they succumbed to a 4-0 defeat at home to Dikwena. It remains by far their heaviest defeat of an amazing season-so-far for the Cape side.
This evening, it is Stars who might be carrying some rust, after a long journey back for Cavin Johnson’s men from the Ivory Coast, and a 2-0 Caf Confederation Cup defeat to AS Tanda on Sunday.
Stars have, however, been an improved side generally in 2017, winning three league games and reaching the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup, as well as the Confederation Cup play-offs. And Johnson did his best to guard against any fatigue, making 10 changes to his side that faced Tanda, from the one that knocked Baroka FC out in the Nedbank Cup last-16. The only man who started both of those matches was defender Sphamandla Mlilo, who was sent off against Baroka, and is suspended for tonight’s game.
“It’s a big game for us. Cape Town City are up there .... they have done well for themselves. We were very good the last time we played against them. It’s important for us to find that form again,” Stars assistant coach Alan Clark told the club’s website.
City should be more than refreshed after an early Nedbank Cup exit has left them with ten days since their last match, a 4-1 home league win over Chippa United.
Tinkler does have one selection issue tonight as he will be without suspended Austrian midfielder Roland Putsche, after he picked up a fourth yellow card of the season against Chippa. That could give Given Mashikinya, who came on as a substitute for Putsche against Celtic recently, his first league start since November.