Despite a spirited performance and a much-changed lineup, the Lobsters were ultimately undone by the clinical finishing of the visitors, who extended their unbeaten run in the league stage of Thai League 3 to over two years.
The Phuket team came into the game without their captain, Kla, who was suspended following a red card in the previous match. His twin brother, Keng, took the armband and played in a back three in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Coach M made several other changes to the starting lineup, with all of the foreign players either benched or injured.
Despite the reshuffle, PAFC started brightly and went toe-to-toe with the league leaders in an end-to-end opening period. However, their hopes of securing a surprise result were dealt a blow in the 6th minute when the referee penalised the home side for a clumsy challenge inside the box. Lizaso stepped up and coolly converted the resulting penalty to give Songkhla the lead.
PAFC continued to battle gamely, but they struggled to create clear-cut chances against a well-organized Songkhla defense. The visitors, meanwhile, looked dangerous on the counter-attack and eventually doubled their lead in the 67th minute through Phanitan.
Despite the setback, PAFC refused to give up and continued to push forward in search of a goal. However, their efforts were in vain, and Songkhla held on to secure a comfortable victory.
The defeat leaves PAFC in a precarious position in the league table. With only four games remaining, they are just two points above the relegation zone. The next three games, against Krabi, Rayong and PSU Surat Thani City, are now absolutely crucial. Three points are a minimum target from these three games, but even that may not be enough to guarantee safety.
Coach M’s honeymoon period is now well and truly over. After a promising start with a draw in his first game in charge, the reality of the challenge facing him has now hit home. He must quickly find a way to galvanise his squad and inspire them to produce the results needed to avoid relegation. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the Lobsters can escape the clutches of relegation and secure their place in T3 for next season.
Next up is a home game on Saturday (Mar 8) against Krabi FC, kick-off 3:30pm.
Simon Causton is the host of ‘A Thai Football Podcast’ and writer of the ’Football Siam’ blog which covers all things Thai football.