High-fliers cautious as top-six hopefuls aim to step up fight

Marsaxlokk and Hibs have so far lived up to their billing as title contenders but the same cannot be said of Birkirkara, the reigning champions, and Sliema Wanderers.

Struggling to hold their own in the initial phase of the championship, Sliema and Birkirkara could well become embroiled in what promises to be a ferocious fight for a place in the top six.

With teams like Msida St Joseph, currently second behind Marsaxlokk, Valletta and Floriana all looking the part as strong Championship Pool contenders, Birkirkara and Sliema can expect a tough challenge to claim a place in the elite section of the standings.

These are still early days but the race intensified last weekend with Valletta joining Sliema and Birkirkara on the 11-point mark after their 1-0 win over the Wanderers and Floriana closing in on the trio after a 1-1 draw with the Stripes on Monday.

Although the table shows Birkirkara as one of the teams in the fight for the top six, their coach Stephen Azzopardi is not unduly concerned about his team's position.

"In five weeks' time, you will see a different team," Azzopardi claimed.

"At Birkirkara, we are only thinking about relaunching our challenge for the title. Due to the serious injury problems we've had so far, our priority from day one has been to maintain a decent position in the standings.

"On Monday, we were so close to gaining the three points against Floriana but we conceded a late equaliser. Nonetheless, I'm not really thinking about our top-six prospects... our ambition is to get closer to Marsaxlokk."

While recognising his team's growing need to get their house in order, Edward Aquilina, the Sliema coach, is confident that the Blues will emerge from this difficult period.

"These are tough times for us but I believe that with the squad we have, we will come through this negative patch," Aquilina said.

"I'm the first to admit that we will not solve anything by saying that, on paper, Sliema should be in the top six. The players have to prove themselves on the pitch."

Aquilina, who led Sliema to three consecutive Premier League titles and a runner-up spot last season, is still searching for the reasons behind his team's stuttering start.

"I am still trying to trace the root of our difficulties so far," Aquilina remarked.

"That said, I think that we should have gained four more points than we actually have because we deserved to beat both Floriana and Birkirkara.

"On the other hand, in our matches against Hibs and Valletta, we did not deserve to gain anything because our performances left a lot to be desired."

Valletta were visibly relieved to have bounced back from the 3-1 upset to Hibs by beating Sliema. Paul Zammit, the City coach, is now hoping for a higher level of consistency from his players.

"The situation regarding the fight for Championship Pool places is very tight and complicated," Zammit said. "Judging by the way the league has panned out so far, I think the race will go to the wire.

"This high level of competitiveness increases the pressure to be consistent. That team that goes through a run of negative results will seriously dent its chances of making the top six.

"Marsaxlokk have so far proved to be a shade better than the rest but the majority of the teams can take points off each other."

Does Zammit count Sliema and Birkirkara among Valletta's rivals for a top-six slot?

"The scenario could change significantly in the second round," Zammit said. "Sliema are experiencing a difficult moment whereas Birkirkara have been seriously hampered by injuries.

"Birkirkara should improve when their injured players return ... together with Sliema they will try harder to climb the standings.

"That said, no team can take progress for granted these days. The likes of Hibs, Floriana, Msida and ourselves have done so well and these teams will also strive to do better."

With 16 points from their opening seven matches, Msida already have one foot in the Championship Pool. In the past few seasons, the unofficial threshold for Championship Pool entry was 21 or 22 points but this term, teams must aim for a higher target.

This is the opinion of coach Patrick Curmi, the mastermind behind Msida's remarkable start to the season.

"As the bottom teams, Pietà Hotspurs, Marsa and St George's, have collected few points so far, I calculate that teams will need a minimum of 25 points to ensure a place in the Championship Pool," Curmi noted.

He is satisfied with his team's record so far but insisted that Msida's mission has not been accomplished yet.

"We are glad with our 16-point tally but we're still some way from reaching our target," Curmi said.

"There are 11 games left before the end of the second round and all fixtures are difficult. Even the bottom teams have proved to be a hard nut to crack."

Invited to give his views on the unconvincing starts made by Birkirkara and Sliema, Curmi said: "Birkirkara have been seriously beset by injuries. They are surely a stronger side with the likes of Roderick Briffa and Michael Galea in the team.

"With regards to Sliema, I'm surprised that they are having a tough time because they have virtually retained the squad they had last year.

"It looks as though their new players have yet to make the desired impact but they also look a bit short of motivation."

Joe Grech, the chief-in-command at Floriana, was quite pleased about his team's 1-1 draw with Birkirkara.

"My team was deserving of the point we got against Birkirkara," Grech said.

"We dictated play for most of the second half and Birkirkara scored from a very dubious penalty but all in all the 1-1 draw was fair."

As for the race for Championship Pool places, Grech said: "Sliema must perform better if they want to enhance their position. Birkirkara ought to raise their level when the key players return from long-term injuries. Still, these teams can expect a stern challenge from Valletta and us.

"I believe Msida will be in the top six because of the number of points they have already gained."

Hibs' 2-1 defeat to Marsaxlokk, their first in six matches, frustrated coach Robert Gatt but it did not sully his confidence in his team's ability to challenge for the title.

"The match was balanced and a draw would have been a fairer reflection of the run of play," Gatt said.

"Marsaxlokk scored a late winner, leaving us with no time to react but overall, I'm satisfied with my team's performance."

Gatt expects the race for the top positions to intensify over the next few months.

"I don't think Marsaxlokk can maintain this rhythm till the end of the league trek," Gatt said. "From our side, we need to get over this setback by winning our next game but it will not be easy because we will face Msida.

"Birkirkara will do better when their injured players return whereas Sliema are passing through a difficult phase. At this stage, you cannot make assumptions because the league is so balanced. Valletta are a strong team and Floriana have also done well."

Marsaxlokk coach Brian Talbot was delighted with the result and the fare produced by both teams in Sunday's top-of-the-table showdown.

"It was a close game between two teams who were desperate to win and go top of the table," Talbot told The Times.

"Both teams played their part in an exciting match and Hibs will be disappointed to have emerged empty-handed because they played well.

"They got back on level terms from a penalty which I thought was harsh on us but after that it was end-to-end stuff.

"I'm pleased that my substitutions paid off and I'm happy that Haruna Doda got the winner. Doda has not been a regular so far this season but he has continued to work hard and has shown a professional attitude."

Although Marsaxlokk's flying start has earned them the tag as leading favourites for the title, Talbot is not thinking too far ahead.

"It's still early days," the Englishman said.

"Like most of the other teams, our priority at the start of the season was to get into the top six.

"At the moment, it looks like Pietà, Marsa and St George's will be in the Relegation Pool but things can change very quickly in football.

"With regards to Sliema and Birkirkara, I cannot really comment on them because I didn't see them last season.

"I've read in the papers that Birkirkara have a lot of injuries while Sliema won three championships in a row, so maybe they are now in a transition period.

"All I can say is that the best three teams in the league so far are at the top of the standings."