Platinum Stars desperate to break winless streak

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Mar 02, 2018. 04:44

Platinum Stars will be desperate to break their winless streak in the Absa Premiership when they host Free State Stars at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on 3 March 2018, kick-off at 20h15.

Platinum saw their drought extended to seven league matches when they were beaten 2-1 at Maritzburg United on February 23. The Rustenburg side’s winless streak has seen pick up just two points from a possible 21.

Dikwena have claimed just six points from 10 home matches this season. Their only win as hosts came against Ajax Cape Town in November last year.

Free State played to a third draw in their last four league matches when they were held 0-0 at home by AmaZulu. The Bethlehem-based side are at least unbeaten in the sequence, with six points taken from a possible 12.

Ea Lla Koto have claimed just 12 points from 10 away matches this season, though they are unbeaten on the road since the turn of the year.

In head-to-head stats, Free State and Platinum have met in 23 league matches since 2005/06. Ea Lla Koto have claimed seven wins compared to six for Dikwena, while 10 matches have been drawn. The Rustenburg-based side have won three of their 11 home matches in the rivalry, suffering four defeats in the process.

When the teams met earlier this season in the Free State, they played to a 1-1 draw thanks to goals from Edward Manqele and Bongi Ntuli. The result was a third 1-1 draw in the last four league meetings of the teams and extended Ea Lla Koto’s unbeaten streak against Dikwena to six matches.

Platinum’s line-up from their 2-1 loss to Maritzburg on February 23: Visser, Mthethwa, Gcaba, Sithole, Mekoa (Mkhabela 12'), Baloyi, Mere, Tshabangu, Norodien (Ng'ambi 86'), Phiri, Koapeng (Matlakala 54').

Free State’s line-up from their 0-0 draw with AmaZulu on February 24: Sangare, Masehe, Mobbie, Mahamutsa, Keita, Phungwayo, Vilakazi (Dlamini 85’), Tchilimbou, Cosse, Jantjie (Maphakisa 64’), Mthembu (Anas 76’).