Tivoli, Portmore in big showdown

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Leaders Tivoli Gardens will look to stave off the chasing Digicel Premier League (DPL) pack when they host third-place Portmore United in a key fixture at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex today, starting at 4:30 p.m.

The west Kingston team, currently on 51 points, are sitting five ahead of Portmore, but must also be wary of second-place rivals Boys' Town, who are on 47.

Despite holding pole position for the better part of three months, Tivoli have found the third round to be a difficult proposition and have taken just four points from their last three games.

However, while their coach Alvin Shaw admits the team has struggled in recent games, he believes it is down to their frame of mind.

"The third round is generally a tough one because every team you play, even the ones at the bottom of the table, are fighting for position. We have to be mentally strong and mentally sharp and we have been working on that," Shaw said.

Tivoli remain the DPL's top scorers with 38 goals, but have found the back of the net a difficult target to hit in recent weeks, failing to score more than a single goal in four of their last five games. However, Shaw is not overly perturbed by that issue.

"I am not really concerned about that. We have had a few defenders chip in from time to time, so that has been good," he admitted. "Yes, we haven't been scoring a lot and our strikers are not on form, but I think everyone is getting back to their best. Navion (Boyd) seems to be coming on, (Roland) Dean is struggling with a minor injury, but as I said, I think it's more the mental aspect of the game."

Tivoli will also be boosted by the fact that inspirational midfielder Keammar Daley has recovered from a hamstring injury and could be available for the fixture, although it is unlikely he will make the starting 11.

Having lost some ground on the weekend, following a 0-0 draw with relegation-threatened Humble Lion, Portmore (46) will relish the golden opportunity to make up ground. But, despite securing a draw and a win over Tivoli this season, Portmore's coach Linval Dixon expects a tough fixture.

"It is going to be a very difficult fixture, we can't afford for the leaders to run away too far, but it is always difficult when you play against the top team, especially at home," Dixon said.

PLAYING WELL

"I think our team is playing well, but we just haven't been scoring goals and we have been working on that in training. It's a tough match, when you play in the third round it always is, as teams fight you for everything."

Second-place Boys' Town will be hoping to capitalise on points dropped by any of the two teams they separate, when they host seventh place Sporting Central at Collie Smith Drive.

Waterhouse, who were also guilty of dropping points on the weekend, following a 1-1 draw with Arnett Gardens, will look to get back to winning ways when they face new-look Humble Lion at Brancourt. The task may not be an easy one for the Drewsland team, as the Clarendon outfit have held their own since significant activity in the January transfer window, taking points off both Tivoli and Portmore in their last two encounters.

Arnett Gardens, who have targeted a top-six finish, will look to continue inching towards that target when they host bottom-place St Georges at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

Two other games scheduled to be played - Benfica vs Reno and Village United vs Harbour View - have been moved to tomorrow, due to the CONCACAF Under-17 World Cup qualifiers, currently under way in western Jamaica.