Matchday 12 Preview

TPL

Saturday
Chiang Rai Utd v BEC Tero
Police Utd v Osotspa Saraburi
Sisaket P-P Ratchaburi
Songkhla Utd v Chonburi

Sunday
Bangkok Glass v Bangkok Utd
Buriram Utd v Army Utd
Chainat v Pattaya Utd
Muangthong Utd v Samut Songkhram
Suphanburi v TOT

A quick glance at the league table shows you that there is a three-way split in the TPL. Chasing the title there is Muangthong, Buriram and Chonburi. Between Suphanburi in fourth and Songkhla Utd in tenth are the sides whose target will to finish in the Top 6. The sides between 11th and 18th have been cut adrift with a few unexpected clubs floundering in the lower reaches of the rankings.

Osotspa Saraburi and Police United got off to reasonable starts, but recent poor runs have seen the duo slip towards the relegation zone. Police haven't won for six matches while Osotspa's sequence is one worse with seven. The pair meet at the Thammasart on Saturday hoping to regain that winning feeling.

Out of the Top 3, Chonburi have the most difficult task making the long journey south to Songkhla. Buriram could be suffering a bit of fatigue after their ACL exertions against Bunyodkor, but will still be expected to beat Army while the same outcome will be anticipated of Muangthong when they host Samut Songkhram.

Chaing Rai United claimed their first win last weekend in Saraburi and their opponents this Saturday will be hoping that new coach Rene Desaeyere gets his first win in the Tero hot seat after his first two attempts have ended in draws.

The remaining three Sunday matches have on-form Bangkok Glass hosting struggling Bangkok United while Chainat will start as favorites to beat Pattaya United. Suphanburi bounced back to winning ways last time out while their opponents TOT looked slightly toothless as they tried to claw back the game against 10 man Muangthong United.

Division 1

Saturday
Air Force v Rayong Utd
BBCU v Nakhon Pathom Utd
Siam Navy v Bangkok FC
Sriracha v TTM
Trat v Phuket

Sunday
Khon Kaen v Nakhon Ratchasima
Rayong FC v Krabi
Saraburi v Ayutthaya
Singh Tarua v PTT Rayong

No matter what happens this weekend, Air Force will still top the first division come 8pm on Sunday evening. The current leaders have won five in a row with the last four ending in 2-1 victories. Their opponents this Saturday have dropped into trouble with only two points collected out of their last 18. This match was supposed to be a home game for Rayong United but was switched to the Thupathemi for what should be a home banker.

The other two form teams in the league at the moment are Bangkok FC and Nakhon Ratchasima. Three consecutive wins have moved the Bulligans up to third and they travel to Sattahip to meet a Siam Navy team who have picked up every one of their 11 points on home turf.
Nakhon Ratchasima's 5-0 demolishing of Siam Navy last week made it five without defeat and moved them up to sixth spot. They travel to their Esan neighbors Khon Kaen who themselves are unbeaten in four.

The clash between Singh Tarua and PTT Rayong on Sunday will have most bearing at the top with fourth hosting second. Singh Tarua won their first four games but have only collected eight points from their last seven while PTT Rayong may still be unbeaten, but three draws from their last four have seen them overtaken by Air Force at the top.