SuperSport under pressure to bounce back

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Jan 18, 2019. 10:03

SuperSport United will be under pressure to bounce back to form in the Absa Premiership when they host Bloemfontein Celtic at Lucas Moripe Stadium on 20 January 2019, kick-off at 15h30.

SuperSport suffered a second successive league loss when they were beaten 2-0 at Black Leopards on January 12. The Tshwane side has taken just five points from the last 21 up for grabs.

Matsatsantsa have claimed 13 points from seven home matches this season, with their last result as hosts a 1-0 loss at the hands of Cape Town City on January 5.

Celtic have taken four points from their two games thus far in 2019, with their last outing a 1-1 draw at home to Golden Arrows on January 13 in which Kabelo Dlamini netted the Bloemfontein side’s goal.

Phunya Sele Sele have claimed 13 points from eight away matches this season, with their last result on the road a 1-0 win at Chippa United earlier this month.

In head-to-head stats, Celtic and SuperSport have met in 50 league matches since 1990. Matsatsantsa have claimed 12 wins compared to 11 for Phunya Sele Sele, while no less than 27 games have been drawn. The Tshwane team has recorded eight wins and suffered five defeats in 24 matches as hosts in the rivalry.

When the teams met earlier this season, at the Dr Molemela Stadium in late November 2018, they played out a goalless stalemate. It was a sixth draw from the last seven league matches between United and Celtic.

SuperSport’s line-up from their 2-0 loss to Leopards on January 12: Williams, Kekana, Khumalo, Daniels, Bhasera, Mnyamane (Grobler 46’), Furman, Ntshangase (Mokoena 82’), Modiba, Webber (Mahlatsi 63’), Keene.

Celtic’s line-up from their 1-1 draw with Arrows on January 13: Tignyemb, De Jongh, Lingwati (Pfumbidzai 67’), Rikhotso, Sam, Baloyi, Phalane, Masuku (Potsane 72’), Mashikinya, Dlamini (Shikweni 89’), Mabena.