Wednesday 18th July - Preview

TPL
Chonburi v Chainat
Chiang Rai Utd v Pattaya

Chonburi aim to bounce back from their disappointing 2-1 loss to Samut Songkhram last Saturday. The Sharks currently sit eight points behind runaway leaders Muangthong, and three points are necessary for Chonburi to keep things interesting at the top. Surprisingly, their opponents, Chainat, are unbeaten on the road with three wins and four draws from their seven away fixtures. Last time out Chainat beat BBCU 1-0 at the Rajamangala despite not playing particularly well.

I'd imagine Chiang Rai United and Pattaya will be disappointed when they look at their positions in the league table. The Fighting Beetles would have been aiming for a top half finish this season after they easily consolidated their top flight status in their maiden TPL season. Just now CR Utd are currently in 13th position. Pattaya had a storming second half to the season last year and they defied all expectations to finish in a lofty fourth position. The most optimistic of Dolphin fans wouldn't have been expecting to challenge for the title this season, but they would have been hopeful of keeping tabs with sides like Army and BG. Currently Pattaya are in the lower half of the table although they could move back into the top half with a victory at the United Stadium. 

Division 1
Siam Navy v Bangkok FC
Krabi v Chantaburi
Songkla v Ratchaburi
JW Rangsit v Air Force
Raj Pracha v Pattalung
Korat v Saraburi
Khon Kaen v Suphanburi

It's been a dramatic week for Pattalung FC. Last Thursday, the club was reported to have been abolished by the owner yet on the following day, he had a change of heart and decided to keep the club afloat. Since then the club has been frantically trying to find players eligible for leg 1 to field a team of 11 for Wednesday's match at Raj Pracha. For Raj Pracha it's also been a difficult few weeks with rumours of unpaid salaries and news that their coach will step down / be fired after leg 1 has finished. Troubled times indeed!!

Meanwhile, heads at the top of the table will turn southwards as leaders Ratchaburi travel to Songkla and second placed Krabi should be a nailed on certainty for three points as they host a beleaguered Chantaburi.

In the north east, we have the Khao Yai derby as the neighbouring provinces of Korat and Saraburi meet for the first of their double headers this month. Another adjacent province to Korat - Khon Kaen - sees the T-Rex get it on with Suphanburi.

Zico aims to make it two wins out of two for his Bangkok FC outfit, but he'll be up against a Siam Navy side which has shown steady improvement in recent weeks. The final tie has the ex-tennats of the Thupatemi, JW Rangsit, hosting the temporary, homeless owners of the Thupathemi, Air Force United, at a military school in Nakhon Nayok town.