Emulating home form is Stars aim

LUC’S MEN HOPE TO SHOOT STRAIGHT

Free State Stars will be chasing three points when they host Golden Arrows for the only midweek Absa Premiership fixture at Goble Park in Bethlehem tonight.

Stars picked up just their third league win of the season when they beat Bloemfontein Celtic 2-0 at home on October 6, with goals from Harris Tchilimbou and Sinethemba Jantjie.

All three of their victories this term have come at home, as they have also beaten Maritzburg United and Highlands Park.

Arrows broke a seven-game winless streak in the league when they edged Black Leopards 1-0 at home on October 7. The Durban side has also kept three straight clean sheets.

Abafana Bes’thende have claimed five points from their four away matches this season, with their last result on the road a 0-0 draw at Orlando Pirates.

Stars and Arrows have met in 26 league matches since 2000/01. Ea Lla Koto have claimed 10 wins compared to seven for Abafana Bes’thende, while nine matches have been drawn.

The Free State club have won seven of their 13 home league matches against the Durban club, while suffering two defeats.

Last season Stars took four points off Arrows, winning 2-1 in the first half of the campaign before a 1-1 draw in the return game. That stalemate was their first draw since the 2012/13 season.

Stars coach Luc Eymael said: “My players have shown everyone that when they apply themselves we remain a dangerous team.

“But when everybody is not playing at 100 percent then it becomes a big problem,” said Stars’ Belgian tactician.

Meanwhile, Golden Arrows coach Clinton Larsen had this to say: “It’s a tricky one for us, playing in the cup, playing on Wednesday (against Free State Stars), and then you play Sunday against SuperSport United.

Free State Stars’ key players include Mpho Maruping. With Paulus Masehe facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a fractured knee, Maruping will be expected to fulfil the midfield general’s role in the absence of Ea Lla Koto’s regular captain. – ANA