Thanda to host Birds

Added: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 (10:43)

Date: 17 December 2008
Kick-off: 15h30
Venue: Mpumalanga Stadium


Thanda Royal Zulu will host Moroka Swallows on Wednesday afternoon at the Mpumalanga Stadium in an interesting clash that sees the two sides meeting for only the fifth time in an official league match. Kick-off is at 15h30.

In their four previous meetings, Thanda have never been able to beat the Dube Birds. Three games have ended in a draw and Swallows have won the other one.

In the corresponding fixture and the reverse fixture last season the two teams played out to a draw, 1-1 at the home of Thanda and a goalless draw at the home of Swallows.

According to statistics one should expect a low scoring game because only three goals have been scored in the four league encounters.

The Birds currently sit in fifth place on the Absa Premiership log on 19 points whereas Thanda sit seven places lower down in 12th position on 13 points.

Thanda’s confidence will be low coming into this game following their 3-2 defeat to Free State Stars in their last Premier League fixture at home.

Swallows, on the other hand, will be looking to continue our good run of form as we have not lost a game in our last four encounters, most recently drawing at home to last season’s league champions SuperSport United.

The Birds will also enjoy the idea of playing the match away from home as we have fared much better on the road than at home winning four games away and only two at home. In their our last away game we defeated Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0.

Swallows will be further boosted to win by virtue of the fact that should the results in other games go our way and we pick up all three points we could move to the top of the Premiership table tie on points.

Swallows

League position – 5th

Last five league results

Date H/A Opponent Result

14/12/08 H Supersport D 1-1

07/12/08 A Sundowns W 0-1

02/12/08 H Bloemfontein Celtic D 2-2

23/11/08 H Platinum Stars D 0-0

16/11/08 H Arrows L 0-1

Next five league fixtures

Date H/A Opponent

21/12/08 H Wits

11/09/09 H Maritzburg

18/09/09 A Bay United

24/01/09 A Ajax

01/02/09 H Santos