Matchday 19 Preview

TPL

Saturday
Army v Chonburi
Bangkok Glass v Buriram Utd
Chiang Rai Utd v Suphanburi
Osotspa Saraburi v Pattaya Utd

Sunday
BEC Tero v Ratchaburi
Muangthong Utd P-P Sisaket
Police Utd v TOT
Samut Songkhram v Bangkok Utd
Songkhla Utd v Chainat

Domestic action is allowed to briefly return this weekend as there is a ten day window to fill amid the string of glamour friendlies. Man Utd and Chelsea have already departed to continue their world tours while Liverpool and Barcelona will wash up on these shores later this month.

The big game this weekend is Bangkok Glass v Buriram United. The match pits BG's Attaphol against his former charges, Buriram United, for the first time since his bizarre sacking minutes after leading Buriram into the last 16 of the AFC Champions League. That decision must still hurt and winning this would help to erase some of the pain that he must have felt. Nonetheless, Bangkok Glass' recent record against Buriram is abysmal and another win for the Thunder Castle would effectively see them move eight points clear of Muangthong. The Kirins sit this weekend out due to having Sisaket as scheduled opponents. The delay might suit Muangthong as it gives them a chance to find a new coach after Winfried Schaefer's departure to take up the reigns of the Jamaican national side.

Whispers have been circulating that Sisaket will be demoted regardless of the courtroom verdict come November. That would mean there would be only two relegation spots left to fill between Pattaya, Chiang Rai, Bangkok Utd, Samut Songkham and Ratchaburi.
Pattaya and Chiang Rai currently occupy those unwanted places and come Saturday evening it's hard to envisage them both not being there after their weekend matches. Chiang Rai travel to Suphanburi while Pattaya visit inform Osotspa Saraburi.
Ratchaburi have brought in a new coach, Jordi Blanco Moreno, to halt their slump before they travel to BEC Tero who themselves are under the guidance of a new tactician after they gave the newly appointed Rene Desaeyere the boot.
A win for Bangkok United at Samut Songkhram this Sunday would move them five points clear of the Mackerels and dare say it, mid-table safety.

Elsewhere, Army welcome Chonburi and they'll be hoping to repeat last season's 1-0 home win, while Police v TOT and Songkhla v Chainat are nothing more than two mid-table encounters.

Division 1

Saturday
Bangkok FC v Phuket
PTT Rayong v Nakhon Pathom Utd
Rayong Utd v Siam Navy
Singh Tarua v Trat
TTM v Nakhon Ratchasima

Sunday
Khon Kaen v Saraburi
Krabi v Air Force
Rayong FC v Ayutthaya
Sriracha v BBCU

Between fifth placed Phuket and Saraburi in tenth, there are only two points separating six sides who will still have ambitions of claiming one of the three promotion places. With 16 games left, now is the time for Phuket, Trat, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Pathom, BBCU and Saraburi to stand up and be counted.

Phuket and Trat both make visits to the sides who sit above them in third and fourth place. Games between Bangkok and Phuket usually result in torrential downpours, so they'll be hoping to get this game finished within the regulation 90 minutes. Bangkok FC will be without their head coach Reuther Moreira as he is back home in Brazil attending to his sick father. Trat make their first trip to the PAT Stadium with Singh Tarua hoping to be the first side to keep a clean sheet against the White Elephants this season.

TTM were rumoured to be heading to Lopburi, but as of now their match with Korat will go ahead at the Bunyajinda Stadium. Korat's squad has been boosted with the arrival of Tatree Seeha on loan from Army Utd. The former Army captain joins a list of other new signings by the Swatcats who have been dismissed by their previous clubs due to disciplinary problems

Nakhon Pathom United will travel to PTT Rayong without top scorer Camara Souleymane. He has apparently been placed on the transfer list for getting too big for his boots.

BBCU will fancy their chances of grabbing three points at Sriracha as the Blue Marlins continue to asset strip their squad. Tenth placed Saraburi are seven points off promotion and three points are a must at Khon Kaen if the Warlords are to close the gap..

The Rayong Provincial Stadium hosts two relegation six pointers this weekend with Rayong Utd v Siam Navy on Saturday and Rayong FC v Ayutthaya 24 hours later. Krabi will be keeping their eye on these two matches as a loss at home to leaders Air Force could see them tumble into the drop zone.