Ħamrun Spartans, Melita, Qormi and Balzan, the four teams involved in today’s two BOV Premier League matches, have one thing in common... all are under mounting pressure to bounce back from disappointing defeats.
Having made headlines for the wrong reasons following their humiliating 8-2 loss to champions Valletta on Monday, Ħamrun Spartans will be looking to begin the long road towards redemption with a win over Melita (kick-off 20.15), who have one point from five games.
Stefan Sultana, the Ħamrun coach, cut a dejected figure on the touchline as his team were outclassed by Valletta.
The former Malta international has revealed that he offered to step down after Monday’s match but the Spartans committee didn’t accept his resignation.
“I resigned after the match but the club didn’t accept it,” Sultana told The Times.
“It’s unacceptable that we conceded five goals in 16 minutes.
“Someone has to take responsibility if results fail to improve.
“Part of the blame for the performance against Valletta is mine because I’m in charge of this team. But, the club have shown that they still have faith in me and I will continue to give my 100 per cent to take the team forward.”
Sultana warned that Melita will be no easy opponents this evening.
“After our heavy defeat to Valletta, Melita will probably be more optimistic and determined to do well against us,” Sultana said.
Bulgarian wing-back Angel Yoshev returns from suspension for Ħamrun.
Striker Terrence Scerri is due to have knee surgery today.
Melita’s creditable perfor-mance against Valletta had heightened hopes of a positive result in their clash with Tarxien but the Reds were below-par as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat.
After taking only one point from their first five games, Melita coach Martin Gregory acknowledges that his team can’t afford to keep losing.
“The time has come for us to start picking points,” Gregory said.
“I was very disappointed with our performance in the last match. In the previous games, the team played better and left the pitch with heads held high.”
Ħamrun may be coming from a humiliating defeat but, in Gregory’s mind, that doesn’t make Melita’s task any easier.
“It will be a difficult match,” Gregory said. “The result of Ħamrun’s last game doesn’t reflect their true qualities.”
Spanish midfielder Manuel Ramon Sierra Camacho is suspended for Melita but flank defender Jovan Vukanic is available to face his former team after serving his one-match ban.
In today’s opening game, Qormi take on Balzan in another clash between two teams in need of points after losing their last match. Qormi crashed to a 4-2 defeat to Mosta while Balzan went down to Hibs, 3-2.
Stephen Azzopardi, the Qormi coach, is still hampered by the absence of midfielder Triston Caruana.
Balzan are boosted by the return from suspension of Brazilian forward Pedrinho but Malcolm Licari is out as he begins a three-match ban.
Programme
Today (Tedesco Stadium 18.00 Qormi vs Balzan; 20.15 Melita vs Ħamrun Spartans.
Tomorrow (National Stadium 15.00 Rabat Ajax vs Sliema Wanderers; 17.00 Mosta vs Floriana.
Sunday (National Stadium 15.00 Tarxien Rainbows vs Birkirkara; 17.00 Hibernians vs Valletta.
Division One
Today (Centenary Stadium 18.00 Birżebbuġa vs Marsaxlokk; 20.00 Naxxar Lions vs Gżira United.