Preview: Daejeon Citizen Vs Bucheon 1995

Daejeon Citizen take on playoff hopefuls Bucheon 1995 this Sunday, hoping to make it three games undefeated for the first time in 2017. The Purples have managed to claw themselves back within just a couple of points behind second-to-bottom placed Seoul E-Land after a win and a draw from their last two matches. Sunday's visitors to Purple Arena, Bucheon 1995, are clinging onto fourth place having failed to win their last two games, drawing once and falling to defeat against Suwon FC. A win for Daejeon would see the Lee Youngik's men climb off the bottom of the table. 

Image courtesy of Daejeon Citizen Facebook

Overview

Last Time Out

Daejeon Citizen picked up a much-needed win last Monday when the Purples shrunk the Violets of FC Anyang at home. Goals from the returning Kim Chanhee on his second debut for the club, as well as a debut goal for Brazilian forward Bruno sealed a much-needed but nonetheless much-deserved 2-0 victory for Lee Youngik's side.

Match report here.

Bucheon 1995 drew 1-1 away to Seongnam FC last time out earning themselves a point that ensured themselves of maintaining their place in that last playoff berth. In a game which saw last year's K League Challenge MVP and former Daejeon Citizen star man Kim Dongchan make his Seongnam debut, Bucheon took the lead immediately after the restart through Lim Donghyuk. But, just six minutes later, Ahn Sanghyun levelled for the Magpies to see the spoils shared.

Previous Meetings

Daejeon head into this one having come up short against Bucheon in each of their last four meetings. The Purples' last win over their west Gyeonggi Province counterparts was mid-June last year when goals from Kim Dongchan and Gustavo Sauerbeck sealed a 2-0 win for, what was then, Choi Moonsik's side.

The most recent meeting was in the middle of May this year when Citizen lost 1-0 away to Bucheon, with a goal from Nilson on 68 minutes proving to be enough to separate the two sides.

In the other meeting between these two sides this term, back in April, a Jung Minwoo strike on 27 minutes for Daejeon cancelled out Bucheon's Waguininho's 20th minute effort to see the points shared.

In ten previous meetings, Daejeon have four victories, Bucheon have three, with the remaining matches ending as stalemates.

Team News

Daejeon Citizen will be without Kim Chanhee who was dismissed during the 2-0 win over FC Anyang on Monday. The returning forward, who re-signed from FC Pocheon last week, received two yellow cards in the second half; one for removing his shirt after scoring Daejeon's first goal of the evening, and the second for an over-zealous areal challenge on Anyang defender Choi Younghoon.

Instead, Bruno could get the nod to start on the wing in Chanhee's absence. Meanwhile, the Purples revealed this week that Kim Jungjoo and Cho Yechan had both joined Gyeongju HNP on loan, Han Seungyeop had left for Cheonan City and Gong Yonghoon has been loaned to Gimhae City.

The Adversary

For the 1-1 draw with Seongnam last time out, Bucheon manager Jung Gapsuk opted for a 4-4-2 system that saw Moon Kihan play up front along side Shin Hyunjun, with Waguininho operating from the right wing. Powerful forward Kim Shin had to make do with a place amongst the substitutes although was introduced at half-time.

Graphic courtesy of Lineup11

With Bucheon being away from home, Coach Jung seemed to opt for a more conservative approach. At home to Suwon FC the week previous, Bucheon took to the field in a 3-4-3 formation with Kim Shin spear-heading the attack along side Waguininho and Jin Changsoo who had both been ushered further forward.

Bucheon lost to Suwon that evening and, despite Kim Shin's dominant performance against FC Anyang at home, which saw the former Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors forward play a pivotal part in the 6-2 demolition of the Violets.

Who To Watch

Kim Shin, the former Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors trainee, who had a spell on loan at Chungju Hummel last season, is proving to be a real handful for Challenge defences once again. In a poor Chungju side last term, Kim Shin managed to find the net 13 times, twice against Daejeon. This year, the 22-year-old has four goals to his name and is a key part of Bucheon's three-pronged attack with his direct and powerful style of play.

Daejeon have a new-look defense, with new signings Jeon Sanghoon and Park Jusung slotting into Citizen Manager Lee Youngik's recently preferred back three system. Jeon and Park will face a much sterner test in Kim Shin and company come Sunday compared to that of FC Anyang's misfiring forward line from last week.

Kim Shin in action against FC Anyang, K League Challenge Round 18

Image courtesy of Bucheon 1995 Facebook

Prediction

Daejeon have experienced somewhat of an upturn in form and fortunes as of late and so will be feeling confident heading into this one. The K League Challenge is an unpredictable league and any forecasts ought to be done so with caution. However, given the nature of Daejeon's recent positive results; a 4-3 win over Suwon FC where the Purples won the game in the 94th minute, a 3-3 draw with Seoul E-Land with a late equaliser, and the comprehensive 2-0 win over Anyang, it looks as though Citizen could just be turning the corner.

As thus, a home win is not all that far-fetched.

Daejeon Citizen 1-0 Bucheon 1995