Under-pressure Stripes target to end negative run
by Ayrton Galea - 25th November 2016
Under-pressure Birkirkara FC will be targeting to end their negative run of three matches without a victory this afternoon when they will take on Tarxien Rainbows FC.
A last-gasp goal by substitute Matteo Desira Buttigieg saved Birkirkara's faces as they took a point from their last 1-1 draw against St. Andrew's following a disappointing performance. This result meant that the Stripes have now gone three matches without a victory following a defeat to Hibernians and a draw with Floriana.
Following last weekend results, the Stripes fell to six points behind Balzan while Floriana joined them in the fourth place. Second-placed Hibernians moved five points while third-place Valletta increased their lead to three points over the Stripes, as both teams emerged as winners during the weekend.
Today's opponents Tarxien Rainbows are going through a roller-coast ride in their technical staff. Coach Jacques Scerri stepped down for personal reasons and his successor Kevin Vella resigned after just twenty-four hours. Ryan Pulis, the new care-taker coach of the Rainbows, led his team for a vital 1-0 victory against Gzira United. This win arrived after six matches following three defeats and three draws.
Thanks to the victory, they consolidated their ninth place in the standings by opening a four-point lead over Gzira United while they narrowed the gap to just one point with St. Andrew's. Mosta and Pembroke remained anchored at the bottom of the table with eighth and seven points respectively.
Birkirkara are expected to be in full squad but on the other hand, the Rainbows must do without Emerson Marcelina and Ebiabowei Baker who be serving their last match out of three following a post-match brawl against Balzan.
In the first-round match, Birkirkara emerged as winners with a comfortable 4-0 score thanks to a goal each by Vito Plut, Srdjan Dimitrov, Frank Temile and Gareth Sciberras.
The match will be played at the Victor Tedesco Stadium and it will kick off at 16:15.
Come on the Stripes!
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