PKNS wary of LionsXii backlash

They have put Malaysian Super League (MSL) big guns Kelantan and ATM to the sword in their own backyard.

PKNS are eyeing another upset when they take on MSL champions LionsXII at the Jalan Besar Stadium last Saturday.

The Selangor-based side raised some eyebrows when they beat ATM 1-0 in Selayang on Jan 24, and went on to beat Kelantan 2-1 in the notorious cauldron that is Kota Baru, just four days later.

PKNS coach Wan Jamak Wan Hassan put the results down to teamwork, and said: "I always tell my boys: Don't respect them (bigger opponents) too much. Make sure they respect you after the 90 minutes."

The 56-year-old former Malaysia coach warned that his side, who are currently fourth in the MSL and unbeaten in three matches, are still not at their best.

"In terms of our performance, I'm still not happy," he said.

"We should have won our games at home against Perak and Sime Darby but ended up drawing them.

"And even though we have two very good foreign strikers (Karlo Primorac and Patrick Wleh), they have scored just one goal each."

He admitted that he was worried his side would be on the receiving end of a backlash tonight from the LionsXII, who are hurting after back-to-back losses to Kelantan and Sarawak.

Said Wan Jamak: "We are at the LionsXII's den and, after two games, they'll go all out to make sure they won't lose a third. After all, if a lion doesn't eat for three or four days, it will be on the hunt and very dangerous.

"So we have to prepare for this."

The wily coach also suggested that Lady Luck has smiled on the LionsXII this season, when they scored winning goals in injury-time to defeat Selangor and ATM.

"Sometimes, you just need luck," he said. "Of course, I can say my boys will win on Sunday.

LUCK

"But it depends on how we perform on the day, and if we get that luck we need."

Because of a flight delay, PKNS could only train about half an hour at Jalan Besar last Friday afternoon, before the LionsXII took to the field for their own session.

As LionsXII coach Fandi Ahmad approached Wan Jamak to exchange pleasantries, the PKNS coach looked up to the heavens and, in jest, asked for heavy rain.

Moments later, the dark clouds obliged with rainfall, although the downpour did little to disrupt Fandi's session.

No doubt, Wan Jamak will be hoping that his prayers for an upset tonight will be answered, too.

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