Buriram United FC head coach Mark Jackson knows his team face a do-or-die encounter against Group A leaders Tampines Rovers FC in Singapore on Wednesday in a crucial Group A action in the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™.
The defending Shopee Cup™ champions enter Matchday 4 of the region’s premier club competition on the back of three successive draws which see them starting the match at Jalan Besar Stadium in fifth position, with the top two clubs advancing into the semi-finals.
“We know we have to win this game tomorrow. That’s our mindset. Obviously, we go out to win every game … even more so in this game, we know we need the three points to help us progress,” said Jackson on Tuesday.
“We’ve analysed our opponents, we know what they’ll bring and we’ll try to exploit their weaknesses like we do every game. Preparation has been good, we have one more training session today, and it’s about getting the players mentally and physically ready.”
The Thai League 1 champions will go head-on against an in-form Tampines Rovers, who lead the group on six points following wins over DH Cebu FC and BG Pathum United FC.
The Singapore Premier League side have been fuelled by the goal-scoring exploits of forward Hide Higashikawa, who have netted five goals to become the tournament’s joint top scorer and ranks first for having most shots on target (7) through three games.
Tampines Rovers head coach Noh Rahman warned his charges to avoid complacency despite Buriram United’s sluggish start to their 2025/26 campaign.
“Buriram United are a quality side, and their current position does not really reflect their quality,” said Noh Rahman.
“This is a team that has played in the AFC Champions League Elite, so there is no doubt they have quality within the squad. For us, it is a good opportunity to challenge ourselves against this type of team.
“In regional competition, I think the players are welcoming this challenge and looking forward to the opportunity.”
Noh Rahman heaped praise on Higashikawa’s contributions and will count on the experienced Japanese forward to lead the frontline again.
“Hide is very important for us,” he said. “Obviously, the number of goals he has scored speaks for itself. But beyond that, he is a player who works extremely hard for the team. It is not just about his attacking qualities … he also contributes a lot defensively.
“I am very happy for him, he deserves the goals and I am pleased with the contribution he has made.”
While Buriram United have found the net on only three occasions in this current campaign, Jackson is confident his team will hit their stride soon based on their recent domestic form where his team have scored 20 goals in their last six matches.
“Obviously, we’ve had draws in this competition, but if you look at how we’ve evolved over recent weeks in our league games, we’re creating a lot of chances and scoring a lot of goals. That’s due to the tactical shift we’ve made with the team,” said Jackson.
“We want to take that shift and mindset into this game tomorrow. We want to be on the front foot and create chances, and I think we’ve shown in recent games that we can do that. At the same time, we want to be strong defensively.”
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