Pre-season forecasts gave Mqabba not even a glimmer of a chance of avoiding relegation but the Premier League minnows have caused critics to sit up and take notice.

These are still early days but, four weeks into the 2011/12 BOV Premier League, the scepticism about Mqabba’s top-flight cre-dentials has all but dissipated after they followed up their surprise 2-0 victory over Marsaxlokk with a creditable 2-2 draw against Birkirkara.

More than the results in their last two outings, it is Mqabba’s attacking and fearless approach that has earned them the admiration of critics and neutrals alike.

Their performances of late also shed a positive light on the work of Clive Mizzi who is living up to his reputation as one of the brighest young coaches in the local game.

“I’m very satisfied,” Mizzi said of Mqabba’s uplifting start to the Premier League.

“The results we have obtained were not expected because we have played against four teams who, on paper, are better than us.

“However, we must keep our feet firmly rooted to the ground because there’s a long way to go. We have a very important game coming up against Balzan Youths... we have not won against them in the last two seasons.

“The points we have gained so far will count for nothing if we fail to take anything from our game on Sunday.”

Mizzi is hoping that his team’s encouraging start to the season will give his players a psychological edge over Balzan before this weekend’s encounter.

“We had two different situations in the last two years,” Mizzi replied when asked to identify the reasons behind Mqabba’s negative record against the Youths.

“In the season before this one, we were fighting to avoid relegation from Division One and psycho-logically it was hard for the players to express themselves.

“Last year, Balzan and us were both challengers for promotion.

“We are both in the Premier League now and I hope it will be a case of third time lucky for us.”

Mqabba are level with Balzan on four points but the latter have picked up just one point on the field as their one and only win so far came after they won a protest against Ħamrun Spartans.

Conscious of their financial limitations, Mqabba only made some minor but significant additions to their squad in the summer as they pinned their hopes on the core of players who secured promotion last season plus a couple of loan signings and two new foreigners, Bojan Mamic and Marko Potezica.

Judging by their showings so far, Mqabba’s decision to keep faith with the bulk of the players who spearheaded their promotion bid is paying off.

Quality additions

“Our target was to add some quality players,” Mizzi said.

“We kept most of the players from last season but we increased our options. There is no secret formula, it’s all about determination.

“Let’s face it, the country’s top players are with the best clubs. But if you play from the heart, anything is possible and that is what I ask of my players.

“Our aim is to hit peak form in the Relegation Pool. The points we gain before the start of the second phase will be an added bonus. I anticipate a tough battle against the drop because Balzan and Mosta have valid squads as well.

“I’m sure that Balzan will recover in the long run. Mosta are also a good side. They’ve had a difficult opening and were unlucky in their game against Balzan but I think they will improve.”

The draw against Birkirkara confirmed that Mqabba’s strength lies in their teamwork and tactical cohesion but the post-match talk was on Mamic’s performance.

The 30-year-old Serb, who was reportedly encouraged to pursue his career in Malta by goalkeeper Justin Haber after the two were team-mates at Ferencvaros, caught the eye with his astute movement and clinical finishing.

Mamic’s performance delighted Mizzi who has backed the striker to raise his game further as he improves his fitness.

“Bojan did well against Birkirkara, he’s a finisher,” Mizzi said.

“He’s still not 100 per cent fit though as he missed pre-season.”

Although Mqabba’s recent dis-plays have made a mockery of suggestions that they were in the Premier League just to make up the numbers, Mizzi believes that their underdog status has given the players added motivation to silence their critics.

“We were favourites to go down at the start of the season but we’re used to this,” Mizzi said.

“Last year, Mqabba were also one of the least-quoted sides in Division One. Even when we climbed up to third in the table, many still dismissed our chances of winning promotion.

“This only served to increase the players’ motivation. At the moment, we are on a high after two positive results but it’s imperative that the players, the few people on the club’s committee and myself don’t get carried away.

“We have to be realistic and remain focused on our targets.”

Premier League statistics

Scorers, red cards

Balzan Youths: Ciantar, Camilleri.
Red cards: Pedrinho (vs Qormi), Francica (vs Hibs).
Birkirkara: Avila 4; Cilia 2 (1 pen); Pereira.
Red card: Decesare (vs Mosta).
Floriana: Caruana, Cassar, Od-wong, Woods.
Own goal: Everton (vs Tarxien).
Red card: Amamoo (vs Sliema Wanderers).
Ħamrun Spartans: Luis Silva.
Red card: Agius (vs Balzan).
Hibernians: Edison 5; Failla 3; Caruana, Soares, Cohen.
Marsaxlokk: Obiefule 5; Deanov 2; Farrugia.
Red card: Templeman (vs Hibs).
Mosta: Zammit 2 (1 pen); Martin.
Own goal: Buhagiar (vs Birkirkara).
Mqabba: Mamic 2; Mazitelli, Azzo-pardi.
Red card: Mazitelli (vs Marsaxlokk).
Qormi: Farrugia 3 (1 pen), Jorge Pereira 3; Bello Osagie, Bartolo.
Sliema Wanderers: Jorge 2, Mifsud Triganza 2; Lima, Scerri, Mitev, Bajada.
Red cards: Scerri (vs Hibs), Grech (vs Floriana), Mitev (vs Marsaxlokk).
Tarxien Rainbows: Bueno 2 (1 pen), Ricardo 2; Everton.
Valletta: Effiong 4; Denni 2, Mifsud 2, Barbosa 2; Borg, Pace.

Next Fixtures

Friday
(National Stadium)
18.00 Floriana vs Marsaxlokk
20.00 Ħamrun vs Qormi

Saturday
(Hibs Stadium)
17.00 Tarxien vs Mosta
19.00 Birkirkara vs Sliema

Sunday
(National Stadium)
17.00 Balzan vs Mqabba
19.00 Valletta vs Hibernians