Defence will be LionsXII's strong suit against Perak
They were defeated 2-0 by Kelantan on Sunday, undone on both occasions by set-pieces.
Casual observers might have also boldly claimed that the LionsXII were outplayed throughout 90 minutes in their Malaysian Super League (MSL) clash.
And although the scoreline might have flattered their opponents, defender Afiq Yunos believes that it was fortune that favoured Kelantan at Kota Baru's Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium that night.
With Perak awaiting the visit of the LionsXII this Saturday, Afiq is confident that another strong defence is on the cards.
Speaking to The New Paper yesterday evening after his side's training session at the Yishun Stadium, the 24-year-old said: "To be honest, I think that Kelantan's attacks were awful.
"They got two goals from a corner and a free-kick. Those were unfortunate but, from open play, they didn't pose a threat. They got plenty of shots, but many of them weren't on target.
ABILITY
"So, I think that shows our ability in defence. I expect no difference in how Madhu (Mohana) and I will approach the game.
"We kept out two of the league's top strikers (Colombian Erwin Carrillo and Cameroonian Emmanuel Kenmogne), and they were pretty big guys.
"We'll keep doing what we do best."
Afiq's partner Madhu, lauded for his performance at the heart of defence, shared his sentiments.
With the both of them likely to face 1.87m-tall Brazilian striker Charles Souza Chad, Madhu feels that their existing defensive approach, coupled with their good understanding, will help to see off any threat from the big man.
The 23-year-old said: "Afiq and I have developed a very good understanding, and we're getting more familiar with each other's playing style.
"We did well covering each other, taking turns to either go out of defence or stay behind.
"Afiq and I have experienced the MSL for at least a season, so we know how Malaysian teams like to play.
"They like to play big foreign strikers. Against PDRM in our first match, they had Dramane Traore. Kelantan had Kenmogne. We already know what to expect.
"If we play like how we've always done, defending as a team and Afiq and I keeping our focus, then we'll be all right."
LionsXII coach Fandi Ahmad has yet to come up with a tactical plan for the Perak clash but, like his two centre backs, he plans to keep it simple.
"I haven't seen Perak's strikers, but we'll work on what we've always worked on," said the 52-year-old.
"We'll stick to what we know, and we'll concentrate on one-on-ones, man-to-man defending and strength work.
"We managed to stop Kelantan's powerful strikers from scoring, so we'll keep that up."
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now
