Battling BEC put faith in interim coach
Muang Thong United going all out for a win
Relegation-threatened BEC Tero Sasana will be at SCG Muang Thong United today fully aware that they don’t have the luxury of being able to afford any more slip-ups.
BEC Tero, last year’s League Cup champions, are now in the three-team relegation zone of the Thai Premier League and will be facing the secondplaced Kirins at SCG Stadium under caretaker coach Rangsan Viwatchaichok, who is also club captain.
Currently in 16th place in the league standings, BEC Tero recently sacked their third coach of the season, Manuel Cajuda of Portugal.
Rangsan has a mountain to climb as even three wins in their remaining three matches may not be enough to keep the falling giants in the top flight.
BEC Tero manager Thanya Wongnark said: “As long as the final whistle of the last match is not blown, we will not give up hope.
“Right now, we have Rangsan as caretaker coach which has in fact boosted the morale of our players.
“We need a win against Muang Thong United — it is as simple as that.
“Unfortunately, [defender] Tristan Do has an injury and will not be available for the rest of the season and Sittichoke Tatsanai is serving a ban. But other key players like Chanathip Songkrasin and Tanaboon Ketsarat are available.
“I believe that Rangsan will help the team survive in the Thai Premier League.”
Besides capturing the 2014 League Cup by beating this year’s TPL and League Cup winners Buriram United 2-0 in the final, BEC Tero also managed to finish third in the TPL last season.
Muang Thong United, who are in the FA Cup final, will play without Datsakorn Thonglao who is still nursing a knee injury, but will welcome Thitiphan Puanjan back from a onematch suspension.
Their prolific four-pronged attack of Teerasil Dangda, Mario Gjurovski, Cleiton Silva and Sarach Yooyen is ready to run rings around BEC Tero’s defenders today.
Muang Thong assistant coach Pol Chomchuen said: “Although we have been assured of second place this season, we will be putting in our best in all the remaining matches. We are aiming to pick up three points from this home match.”
BEC drew 1-1 with Muang Thong at home earlier this season.
Chonburi, who are looking to finish third this season, meet Army United at home today.
Chonburi media director Jeerasak Chomthong said: “We will be missing Suttinun Phukhom and Adul Lasoh and need to run a pre-match fitness check on Leandro Assumpcao as well.
“Other players are all fit and we are confident of claiming three points from the match as we want to finish the season in third place.”
Army United assistant manager Col Somsak Rithirongwattana said: “We had a tiring mid-week FA Cup semi-final [losing 2-1 to Muang Thong] but we are still hoping to hold Chonburi to a draw and take a point.”
Having already retained the title, Buriram will hold a big party to celebrate the success after their home match against Saraburi today.