Balestier Central vs Tanjong Pagar Prediction: The hosts stand a better chance of winning here

Balestier Central will strive for the maximum points when they host Tanjong Pagar at the Bishan Stadium on Saturday. Balestier have a slim chance of advancing to the next round, having lost their last two games, while Tanjong Pagar need a point here to stand a chance.

The hosts head here with a slim (3-2) defeat against Hougang. The result means Balestier must win here and score more than enough to adjust their goal difference. They began their journey in this tournament with a total humbling against Lion City. The Sailors scored seven times against Balestier Central without a response, even though they play on their home turf.

The Tigers had a better season than the previous run in the SPL, wrapping up their campaign in fourth place. Balestier Central were the only side that didn’t draw a game in the league; they lost twelve and won twelve times.

Balestier Central won just once in their previous outing in this competition, and we expect them to do better this time.

The Jaguars began their campaign with a slim (2-1) victory over Hougang United. Tanjong Pagar drew the first blood but needed an own goal at home to secure all the points. More recently, they lost heavily to Lion City as two of their senior players were shown red cards. The game ended in a (4-1) loss, as they must win here to stand a chance of making it out of the group. The Jaguars picked up twenty-one points from a possible seventy-two, ending in the bottom two of the SPL.

This season, they conceded sixty-two times while scoring thirty-nine times. Tanjong's major problem was their defense, as they have let in more than a goal over their last eleven games. Tanjong Pagar have won three and lost nine away from home this season.

Over their previous twenty meetings, Balestier have won eleven while Tanjong Pagar have won six and three games ending in a tie. The visitors need just a point to advance here, while the hosts must score as much as they can and win to move to the next phase. It’s a very difficult game, but we believe the hosts won’t sell the game out. Balestier Central will mostly capitalize on the absence of two quality midfielders for Tanjong Pagar, Blake Ricciuto and Salamat, who were shown a red card against Lion City; bet on a home win in either half for 1.76.

We expect both sides to get BTTS and score more than three goals for 1.72.

We expect the hosts to win here for 2.32.

Good luck!