Miller wary of wounded Greens

Back-to-back defeats have inten-sified the pressure on Floriana ahead of their clash with Premier League leaders Hibernians at the Tedesco Stadium tomorrow (kick-off 2 p.m.).

Nine games into the season, Hibernians are the only unbeaten team in the top flight but last weekend, they missed the chance to open a three-point gap over champions Valletta after being held to a one-all draw by Ħamrun Spartans.

The Paolites will be vying to return to winning ways tomorrow but coach Mark Miller is wary of Floriana’s threat.

“That is one of the big factors about our opponents,” Miller replied when asked if Floriana’s urgency to halt their winless run could make his team’s task more complicated.

“They have lost against two big teams (Valletta and Birkirkara). Floriana will be concen­trated, they will be determined to get a good result. This is perhaps not the best time for us to play Floriana but we have to deal with it.

“I’m happy with our preparations for the game. The players have been working hard in training and there’s a good spirit in the squad. Ħamrun gave us a tough game but we had a very good chance to win the match towards the end.

“We have only lost four points so far this season and we will try to get back to winning ways but Floriana will be difficult opponents.

“You have to be well-prepared for every game. Every team we play against show a lot of fighting spirit because we’re the top side in the Premier League at the moment.

“They are more motivated to give us a hard time but that comes with the territory. There’s still a long way to go though.”

The one-all draw against Ħamrun prevented Hibs from extending their winning run to eight consecutive matches but Miller is pleased with the players’ response.

“It shows you what type of players you have in the dressing room,” Miller said. “When you lose, draw or win, the reaction is very important. When we were winning, we always looked at what we should have done better.

“There was disappointment in the dressing room after the draw with Ħamrun because the players felt that we should have won that game. That attitude is good as long as you look at it in a positive way.”

Miller is unlikely to make significant changes from the team that drew with the Spartans. Adrian Pulis is still sidelined with a hamstring injury and Jonathan Pearson is struggling to shake off a knee problem.

Brazilian forward Marcelo Dias is not 100 per cent fit due to a nagging ankle problem but is still expected to start tomorrow. Defender Diego Balbinot has a good chance of being included in the squad as he is nearing the completion of his recovery from a thigh injury.

Floriana may be down after losing two games on the trot for the first time this season but coach Michael Woods has derived many positives from his team’s performances.

“In the last two games we’ve shown great determination,” Woods said. “If we do that against Hibs, I’m sure we can get a positive result.

“Our showing against Birkirkara was good despite the fact that we lost 3-0. We were playing well until the penalty incident and the dismissal of our goalkeeper changed the course of the game.

“Our fans applauded the players at the end of the game and that doesn’t happen too often after a team loses 3-0. I want to thank our supporters for their backing.”

Woods is also taking heart from Ħamrun’s success in snatching a point off Hibs. “Hibs are the most consistent team but as Ħamrun showed last weekend, teams can get points off them if they are organised and hard-working,” Woods said.

“This season the teams are very balanced. It’s important that we obtain a good result from this match to keep in touch with the pacesetters but it’s still early to talk of decisive clashes.”

Woods has a goalkeeping crisis as Manuel Bartolo is suspended after seeing red in the defeat to Birkirkara. With Ghanaian goalkeeper William Amamoo out of favour with the club’s hierarchy, Woods is expected to call upon young custodian Jurgen Borg for the Hibs game.

A Dutch goalkeeper and a Brazilian midfielder have been training with the Greens on a trial basis but Woods wants more time to assess their qualities.

Defender Tyrone Farrugia is out for the rest of the season with a cruciate injury. Farrugia is set to have knee surgery in a Sicily clinic later this month.

Playmaker Christian Caruana has resumed light training after picking up an ankle injury in the 1-0 loss to Valletta but is unlikely to play a part against Hibs.

Mqabba boosted by return of four players, Ramon set for City return

Mqabba vs Mosta (today at 6 p.m., Tedesco Stadium).

Mqabba welcome back four first-team players for their clash with bottom side Mosta.

Coach Clive Mizzi is boosted by the return of defenders Mark Anthony Psaila and Branislav Timotic and midfielders Clayton Micallef and Marko Potezika who missed the 3-2 defeat to Tarxien through suspension. Serbian striker Bojan Mamic will serve the second of a two-match ban.

Mosta coach Oliver Spiteri must make at least one change from the team that lost to Qormi as Italian defender Federico Tisbi has been handed a one-match ban following his red card last weekend.

Otherwise, the Mosta coach has a full complement at his disposal.

Balzan Youths vs Valletta (today at 8.15 p.m., Tedesco Stadium).

Brazilian defender Ramon is set to be named in the Valletta squad for the first time this season after a long spell on the sidelines due to a groin injury.

Valletta coach Jesmond Zerafa can bank on a full squad as the champions bid to get back in winning groove after their 1-1 draw with Sliema Wanderers last Friday.

Ivan Zammit, the Balzan coach, is without central defenders Yessous Camilleri and Jonathan Francica.

Camilleri was given a one-match ban in midweek while Francica is nursing a thigh injury. Clifton Ciantar, who suffered a head injury in the 3-1 win over Marsaxlokk, has made a rapid recovery and could be included in Balzan’s squad this evening.

Marsaxlokk vs Ħamrun Spartans (tomorrow at 4.15 p.m., Tedesco Stadium).

Marsaxlokk are expected to be without a coach for the second successive game as they are still looking to find a replacement for Winston Muscat who resigned last week.

An English coach is believed to have conducted a number of training sessions with the Marsaxlokk squad this week but has not reached an agreement to take over on a permanent basis.

Defender Clive Brincat returns from suspension but midfielder Florent Raimy must serve a one-match ban while skipper Carlo Mamo (flu) is rated as doubtful.

Ħamrun are boosted by the return of Swiss midfielder Carlo Polli, goalkeeper Omar Borg and Scottish forward Dene Shields. Roderick Fenech and Clyde Camoin are out with long-term knee injuries.

It was also announced yesterday that the Spartans will be holding an extraordinary general meeting on November 16 at the Tedesco Stadium. The club members are expected to elect a new committee during the EGM.

Sliema Wanderers vs Qormi (Sunday at 2 p.m., Tedesco Stadium).

Jeffrey Chetcuti can’t face Sliema Wanderers, one of his former clubs, in Sunday’s opening match as he is suspended.

Brazilian midfielder Giuseppe Vela and Greek defender Christos Karamanolis are still out with injuries for Stephen Azzopardi’s team who moved up to third in the table after their 4-1 win over Mosta last weekend.

Sliema, for their part, are still without goalkeeper Henry Bonello who is recovering from a calf injury and striker Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza who is sidelined with a hamstring problem.

Birkirkara vs Tarxien Rainbows (Sunday at 4.15 p.m., Tedesco Stadium).

Birkirkara will be looking to make it three wins in a row when they face Tarxien.

Coach Paul Zammit must make do without right-back Angus Buhagiar who is suspended after collecting his fourth yellow card in the 3-0 defeat of Floriana on Monday.

Midfielder Shaun Bajada is in the final stages of his rehab from ankle surgery.

Tarxien coach Patrick Curmi, who succeeded Noel Coleiro last week, has no selection problems.

Brazilian forward Ricardo is back in the frame after suspension kept him out of the 3-2 win over Mqabba.

Division One Fixtures

Today (Luxol Stadium 6 p.m.) Melita vs Dingli Swallows; 8 p.m. Rabat Ajax vs St Andrews.