Tivoli hoping to snap six-game winless streak

Tivoli Gardens coach Jermaine ‘Teddy’ Johnson is hoping his team can get it right when they face rivals Portmore United in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) today at the Stadium East Complex at 3 p.m.

Tivoli have failed to win in their last six games, with only two draws during that spell. But the former Reggae Boy insists he is not worried but focused on getting his team up to standard.

“My mentality is not to worry about the next game but how we can get things right and see how far we can go.

“We do not want to get ahead of ourselves because the game is against a tough team. So we just have to ready ourselves and try to get a win or a draw,” he said.

“The most important thing is to stop goals, but we need to score goals as well, as we are not getting much up top and we put ourselves under pressure by the mistakes we make.

FALLEN SHORT

“So we will try and stop those gaps and see where we can go. We have fallen short each game but we will come all out and hopefully we will get this one right.”

After a string of draws, Portmore are now getting notches in the win column, a fact Johnson is acutely aware of.

“Portmore is always a good team and, when it comes to Tivoli and Portmore, it is always a good game. So I am looking forward to the clash and hoping for the best for us.”

Portmore United are still undefeated after eight matches and, with the quality they have shown in defence, they are confident of victory.

“No one has beaten us, so we are pretty confident in our defensive unit and how we play the game.

“It is a matter of us going out and finding ways to win because we know we are difficult to beat. So it is just for us to do what we must to get three points, and we have been doing that the last few games,” noted Portmore United coach Philip Williams.

Portmore failed to win any of their first four games, but have won three of their last four to sit fifth in the table with 14 points, six behind leaders Mount Pleasant.

“The confidence is in our preparation and we have been preparing well from pre-season ‘til now. It is a long season, so we were not worried about our slow start.

“But this is the Premier League and, every match, you have to approach it like it is your last because the other teams have quality that can hurt you. So we approach it [the game] to win it but it will not be an easy match to win,” he added.

Tivoli are currently ninth in the table with six points.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Today’s games

- Vere v Chapelton at Wembley Centre of Excellence at 3 p.m.

- Faulkland v Molynes at Wespow Park at 1 p.m.

- MoBay v Dunbeholden at Wespow Park at 3:15 p.m.

- Tivoli v Portmore at Stadium East Complec at 3 p.m.

- Harbour View v Waterhouse at Stadium East Complex at 5:30 p.m.