Duckie hoping to revive fortunes with win over Humble Lion
Published:Sunday | March 5, 2023 | 1:04 AMLivingston Scott - Gleaner Writer
MONTEGO BAY United coach Donovan Duckie is hoping his team can turn their Jamaica Premier League (JPL) fortunes around beginning with a win against Humble Lion when the two play this afternoon at Effortville, beginning at 3:30 p.m.
At the start of the JPL season, Montego Bay United were red-hot, winning three of their first four matches.
However, after losing to Humble Lion in the fifth round, the team has failed to rediscover that early season form.
Ironically, since that time, Humble Lion have slowly gathered momentum and climbed to fourth in the standing with 28 points, while MoBay have slipped to ninth with 18 points.
However, Duckie is hoping that a win away to the Clarendon side can revive their campaign and even put them in a position to take a top-six spot.
“That (game) was what broke our momentum. Our players are kids and we were having a good run and then the World Cup break threw the momentum off,” he said.
“They started building momentum after they defeated us, so it would be fitting for us to return that favour. Once we can win that, I think we will be able to build momentum,” he said.
He noted that, although MoBay were not winning consistently, they have been getting results and it was now important for them to start turning these draws into wins.
“On any day, MoBay United can win a game. The stats have shown that MoBay have been creating more chances. Even when we lose, our problem is around the box in both phases.
“But we have nine games and that is 27 points, and, apart from three teams, most of the other teams have been inconsistent and we think that 18 (more) points can get us through.
BUILD CONFIDENCE
“We just have to get momentum going. Once we can get the win, it is going to build confidence and, with more confidence, we can improve under the winning column,” he said.
Meanwhile, Humble Lion have only lost one in their last seven, and coach Andrew Price expects their good form to continue at home.
“One thing we have established is that, when you come to Effortville, you are not going to leave with anything. That is always our objective. We want Effortville to be a fortress.
“Whenever we play at Effortville, we hope the crowd, as our 12th man, helps us in getting the three points, and we hope it will be no different this Sunday,” said Price.
According to Price, morale has also climbed in recent weeks, but he still wants greater efficiency in front of goal.
“Once you put in the work during the week, you will get the result on the weekend. So it is about installing confidence and belief in them, and they have responded very well and we hope to continue in the same vein.”