All’s well that ends well, it is often said, and that is how Valletta will have felt last Saturday after fighting back from two goals down to beat Sliema Wanderers 5-2 in the FA Trophy fourth round.
Saturday’s five-goal comeback not only kept Valletta’s double bid alive, it strengthened their confidence ahead of their championship match against the same opponents today but coach Jesmond Zerafa warned against the dangers of reading too much into last weekend’s win.
“This game is different,” he said.
“Cup ties are do-or-die affairs but this is a league fixture and the main objective is consistency.
“I’m expecting a tough encounter. There is little between the teams involved in the Championship Pool race and Sliema are among those fighting to finish in the top six.”
After seeing his team concede first for the third game running against Sliema, Zerafa has called on his team to address that weakness.
“I hope that we don’t repeat the same mistakes we committed last weekend,” Zerafa said.
“The players deserve credit because it’s not easy to turn the game around when you’re losing 2-0. We can’t afford to keep giving away early goals.”
Valletta, six points clear at the top, had also fallen behind early in their 1-1 league draw with Hibs and the 2-1 win over Mqabba.
Zerafa is expected to give a debut to Argentine midfielder Nahuel Pulitano Jimenez while young Slovenian striker Miha Robic should be included in the squad.
During the week, Valletta sent three players out on loan, namely Dyson Falzon, Jamie Pace and Brazilian defender Ramon who have joined Mosta, Balzan and Vittoriosa Stars respectively.
Sliema have not had much to smile about lately as, apart from the distraction caused by the comings and goings during this month’s transfer window, the ’ exit from the Trophy came after an unexpected 2-1 defeat to Balzan Youths in the league.
While admitting that his side’s performance in the second half against Valletta was poor, Sliema coach Danilo Doncic preferred to focus on the positives.
“I don’t think many teams have played as well against Valletta as we did in the first half,” Doncic said.
“We had tactical discipline, were dangerous with counter-attacks and made the most of our set-pieces.
“But, the second half was very disappointing. My hope is that we repeat the first 45 minutes but against a strong team like Valletta, you have to remain focused all the way.”
With 26 points from 17 games, Sliema are embroiled in a tight race for top-six places.
“Every point is crucial at this stage, moreso after our defeat to Balzan,” Doncic said.
“If we gain something from this game, it will be a plus for us.”
An already daunting task for Doncic and his team has been further complicated by the absence of four key players, namely suspended duo Danail Mitev and Steve Bezzina, injured Mark Scerri and Ryan Fenech who, under the conditions of his loan move, cannot play against his parent club in the league.
Sliema, who have been locked in discussions with Birkirkara over a player exchange deal involving Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, Trevor Cilia and, possibly, Andrew Decesare, are trying to sign two Bulgarian strikers.
They are 31-year-old Todor Kolev and Miroslav Antonov, 25, who are on the books Ludogorets Razgrad, joint leaders of Bulgaria’s top league along with CSKA Sofia.
First round: Valletta vs Sliema Wanderers 1-1.
The other matches
Birkirkara vs Floriana (today at 14.00, National Stadium).
Dutch defender Regi Nooitmeer is set to make his first appearance for Birkirkara who will be without Joseph Zerafa, suspended.
Coach Paul Zammit was due to check on the condition of Shola Haruna during training yesterday.
Floriana defender Eric Akoto starts a two-match ban as coach Michael Woods is hoping to get the all-clear to field goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo and Ivan Woods who have been struggling with injuries.
Pablo Doffo, Andre Grabowski and John Mintoff are recovering from flu.
First round: Birkirkara vs Floriana 3-0.
Mqabba vs Tarxien (tomorrow at 14.00, Hibs Stadium).
Only three points separate Mqabba (16) and second-bottom Tarxien (13).
Mqabba will probably be without Bojan Mamic as coach Clive Mizzi is unlikely to risk the Serbian striker as he has yet to fully recover from a hamstring injury. Mamic, however, could make the bench.
Tarxien coach Patrick Curmi has a host of important players missing. Daniel Mariano Bueno has resumed training after undergoing a knee operation but he’s still not fit to play.
Ricardo Costa is suspended and Karl Pulo doubtful.
Luke Vella Critien has left Tarxien to join Division One side Vittoriosa while Karl Sammut is not expected to be considered for selection after failing a doping test.
The former Vittoriosa wing-back has been provisionally sus-pended by the MFA but the ban comes into effect on Tuesday.
Right-back Justin Grioli is in line for a recall after recovering from injury.
First round: Tarxien Rainbows vs Mqabba 3-2.
Hibs vs Ħamrun (tomorrow at 16.00, Hibs Stadium).
Second-placed Hibs will be without playmaker Andrew Cohen, suspended, for their second-round meeting with Ħam-run Spartans.
Adrian Pulis and Ryan Camilleri are still sidelined with injuries.
Ħamrun clearly face an uphill struggle to beat a team whom they trail by 23 points but the rele-gation-threatened Spartans will have taken heart from their 3-2 defeat of Birkirkara in the FA Trophy.
Gianluca Calabretta is sus-pended for the Spartans who have completed the signing of Danish defender Ron Hartvig. The latter has had spells with Birkirkara and St Andrew’s.
First round: Hibernians vs Ħamrun Spartans 1-1.