Dolphins desperate for win as specter of relegation looms

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Thai Premier League Football 2012 Season

Pattaya United face a nervous climax to the Thai Premier League season after a goalless draw against Bangkok Glass last weekend left the Eastern Seaboard outfit requiring one more win from their final two fixtures to ensure that top flight football will still be played in the seaside resort city next year.

United failed to break down a stubborn and at times desperate Bangkok Glass defence at the Nongprue Stadium on Sunday despite an all out assault in the second half that saw shots rain down on the visitors’ goal.

Pattaya United’s Ludovick Takam, left, sees his shot on the Bangkok Glass goal go narrowly wide during their Thai Premier League fixture at the Nongprue Stadium in Pattaya, Sunday, Oct. 14. (Photo/Pattaya United) Pattaya United’s Ludovick Takam, left, sees his shot on the Bangkok Glass goal go narrowly wide during their Thai Premier League fixture at the Nongprue Stadium in Pattaya, Sunday, Oct. 14. (Photo/Pattaya United)

Several United players were guilty of squandering chances that they would normally be expected to put away and this has been symptomatic of the problem all season of failing to regularly hit the back of the net. (The Dolphins have notched only half the total number of goals of league champions Muang Thong United, despite having played one game more).

United’s final two fixtures are away trips to third placed BEC Tero Sasana on Sunday, Oct. 21 and Samut Songkhram on Oct. 28.  Should United lose both those games, they would require Thai Port and Chainat to drop points in their final 2 fixtures in order to maintain their place in Thailand’s top flight.

Thai Premier League Results & Standings (Oct. 14)

Team P W D L +/- Pts
Muang Thong United 31 23 8 0 39 77
Chonburi 30 19 6 5 30 63
BEC Tero Sasana 32 15 8 9 8 53
Buriram United 32 13 12 7 18 51
Esan United 32 10 14 8 -1 44
Osotspa 31 13 4 14 2 43
Samut Songkhram 32 11 9 12 -4 42
TOT 32 10 12 10 0 42
Bangkok Glass 32 9 14 9 10 41
Wuachon United 31 9 14 8 1 41
Army United 32 9 13 10 -4 40
Chiangrai United 32 9 11 12 -9 38
Police United 32 9 11 12 -3 38
Pattaya United 32 9 10 13 -8 37
Chainat 32 7 12 13 -16 33
Thai Port 32 8 9 15 -14 33
BBCU 31 4 13 14 -20 25
TTM Chiangmai 32 2 12 18 -29 18
Results:  (Sat 13/10) BBCU 1 – 1 Army United; Chonburi 2 – 0 TOT; Police United 1 – 0 Thai Port; (Sun 14/10) Wuachon United 1 – 1 Esan United; Pattaya United 0 – 0 Bangkok Glass; TTM Chiangmai 0 – 1 Samut Songkhram; Osotspa 2 – 1 Buriram United ; Muang Thong United 1 – 0 Chainat; Chiangrai United 0 – 1 BEC Tero Sasana