* Sabah can spoil the part for Kedah says coach Tan Cheng Hoe
* Kedah without suspended Albanian playmaker Liridon Kraniqi
Leaders Kedah are hot favourites to beat mid-table Sabah in a penultimate Premier League match in front of their home fans and supporters at Alor Star’s Darulaman Stadium on Tuesday.
However, ‘Pasukan Sayur’ (Vegetable team) as Sabah FA Datuk Seri Musa called the Sabah team after a spate of disappointing results, is a worrying factor for Kedah head coach Tan Cheng Hoe.
“Kedah will not underrate Sabah…more so because of their roller coaster run of late. We have to be at our best and pull no punches in our quest for a win to stay at the top with only two matches to go,” said Cheng Hoe from Alor Setar.
Kedah’s hopes of early celebrations in winning the Premier League title and earning promotion to the elite Super League were put on hold by mid-table Negri Sembilan who won 2-0 at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi on Friday.
Cheng Hoe has been drilling into his players not to be “over confident” in the league’s last two matches. Kedah complete their league fixtures with an away match against an equally unpredictable side DRB Hicom.
“The match against DRB is an afternoon match and this is another bother. But for now we are focused on getting full points off Sabah and at the same time hope Penang and T-Team to falter to give us the advantage,” added Cheng Hoe.
Kedah lead the table with 42 points with Penang in second spot with 39 points after their 4-0 win over Sabah at home in their last match. T-Team also have 39 points but the teams are separated by goal difference.
