Stars look to break winless streak

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Apr 13, 2018. 16:10

Free State Stars will look to break their winless streak in the Absa Premiership when they host Bloemfontein Celtic at Goble Park Stadium on 14 April 2018, kick-off at 18h00.

Stars have gone three league matches without a win after they were held 1-1 at Golden Arrows on April 7. The result was preceded by back-to-back losses to Chippa United and Kaizer Chiefs in mid-March and early April respectively.

Ea Lla Koto have claimed 22 points from 13 home matches this season, though their last turn as hosts was the above-mentioned defeat at the hands of the Amakhosi.

Celtic have won just one of their last four league matches after they were held 1-1 at home by AmaZulu on April 8. The Bloemfontein side has picked up just four points from a possible 12 in the sequence.

Phunya Sele Sele have claimed just 11 points from 13 away matches this season, and they have not won on the road since beating Bidvest Wits in Johannesburg in January.

In head-to-head stats, Celtic and Stars have met in 53 league matches since 1986. Ea Lla Koto have claimed 18 wins compared to 14 for Phunya Sele Sele, while 21 matches have been drawn. The Bethlehem side have won 12 of their 26 home matches against their provincial rivals, suffering five defeats in the process.

When the teams met earlier this season, Celtic claimed an emphatic 3-0 home win in December 2017, thanks to goals from Victor Letsoalo (two) and Lucky Baloyi. The result broke a six-game winless streak in the rivalry for the team in green and white.

Stars’ line-up from their 1-1 draw with Arrows on April 7: Sangare, Mobbie, Keita, Mahamutsa, Phungwayo, Jantjie (Teyise 90’), Makhaula, Vilakazi, Dlamini (Mokhuoane 71’), Tchilimbou, Cosse (Mthembu 65’).

Celtic’s line-up from their 1-1 draw with AmaZulu on April 8: Tignyemb, Lubisi, Rikhotso, Ndengane, Pfumbidzai, Baloyi, Motshegwa (Maema 83’), Phalane (Maruping 80’), Hotto, Dlamini (Mabaso 61’), Mabena.