Stewart: The wins will come

Redzwan Kamarudin

May 21, 2014 06:00 am

BALESTIER KHALSA v WOODLANDS WELLINGTON

(TONIGHT, 7.30PM, TOA PAYOH STADIUM)

Six draws are better than six losses.

That was how Woodlands Wellington's coach Darren Stewart chose to view his side's tag of "draw specialists".

The Rams have had to share the spoils in half of their 12 Great Eastern-Yeo's S.League games.

Only Geylang International and Tampines Rovers, with four draws apiece, come anywhere close.

Stewart said: "A lot of people have told me that they're worried about how we've drawn six games this season, but I like to look at it in a positive way.

"I would take a draw over a loss any day.

"We were unlucky to not take all three points against Hougang last time, and the same happened against Albirex Niigata.

"We've had a few calls by the referee that really cost us, but these things even out as the season goes."

The Australian was referring to the 1-1 draws his side notched against Hougang United in their last game and Albirex Niigata in March.

On both occasions, Woodlands were leading 1-0, only to have three points snatched from them right at the  death.

A 90th-minute penalty by Hougang's Diego Gama as well as a 95th-minute strike by Albirex's Taiyo Nishida denied them wins which would have taken them closer to the fifth position they finished last season.

The Rams are currently ninth, with two wins, six draws and four losses.

Their opponents tonight, Balestier Khalsa, have a slightly better record of four wins, three draws and five losses.

To take down Balestier, Woodlands must first stop marquee signing Goran Ljubojevic, who is on a roll with nine goals this season.

Stewart can certainly do with a striker of that calibre.

The Rams' frontline has been struggling to make an impact, and the statistics sum up their lack of sharpness in front of goal.

MEAGRE

While they have conceded just 16 goals - one more than the second-placed Warriors - the meagre 11 goals they netted place them joint-bottom of the goal-scoring table.

Moon Soon Ho, whose 15 goals last season was the league's joint-best alongside Aleksandar Duric's, has found the net only twice this term.

But Stewart is looking on the bright side.

He said: "Last season, we were a very different side, and he (Moon) got the service he needed.

"But this time, the strikers have to take it upon themselves to play supplier and finisher, so it's much harder.

"Overall, my players' work rate is just amazing, and I'm sure that with time, the wins will come."

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