Preview: Faltering Gyeongnam look to bounce back in Changwon

 

Gyeongnam FC host Bucheon FC at the Changwon Football Center on Monday night in search of a much-needed three points to arrest their dismal run of form of late.  The Reds are in the midst of their worst run of the campaign to date.  Picking up just two points from a possible fifteen available.  The visitors are also in a mini-slump of their own not picking up a victory in their last four games.  This will be a very nervy encounter for both managers.  K League United's Gyeongnam columnist James Edrupt previews the clash.

Match: Gyeongnam FC vs Bucheon FC 1995
Venue: Changwon Football Center.  Changwon.
Kickoff: Monday, July 19th, 2021; 19:30 (KST)

Recent Form

Gyeongnam just can't find that winning formula

Manager Seol Ki-hyeon must be scratching his head wondering where the next win will come from.  The latest reversal for the Changwon-based side came at the hands of the improving Ansan Greeners away from home.  Gyeongnam had a perfect opportunity to open the scoring as early as the ninth minute through striker Yun Ju-tae from the spot.  Yun saw his feeble effort saved easily.  Ansan were to make the visitors pay just seven minutes before the interval through leading marksman Kim Ryu-do who made no mistake from the spot.  Midfielder Choi Geon-joo doubled the host's advantage nine minutes after the break finishing well into the corner.  Gyeongnam's task was made even worse when influential center half Lee Kwang-seon received his marching orders for two bookable offenses just three minutes after conceding the second goal.  The Green Wolves were to rub salt into the wounds by adding a third through defender Song Joo-ho.  Brazilian winger Willyan restored some pride by scoring a consolation late on but it was to no avail.  Ansan held on for a comfortable and well earnt three points at the Wa Stadium.  

Are Bucheon slipping back into their old ways?

Despite Bucheon's performances of late being much-improved they still find themselves rooted to the bottom of K League 2.  Last week's defeat at the hands of Chungnam Asan by a solitary goal was a bitter pill to swallow.  Brazilian attacking midfielder Matheus Alves added to his tally for the season with the only goal of the game on seventy-five minutes.  A scrambled effort that somehow bobbled into the goal after a corner wasn't cleared sufficiently.  It was a very even contest with Asan just about deserving victors.  The defeat was only Bucheon's second in ten matches however so overall they are playing a much better more solid brand of football.  They have drawn six in that span which they will want to turn into victories sooner rather than later if they are to get climb up the table.

[READ:Ricardo Peres Interview: "I love challenge... it's very exciting to start from zero"]

Team News

Gyeongnam FC have a near fully fit squad to chose from bar the suspended central defender Lee Kwang-seon who will have to watch from the stands after picking up two yellow cards last time out against Ansan.  Hwang Il-soo was an unknown absentee from the matchday squad last Monday so the pacey winger will be hoping to figure.  Striker Lee Jeong-hyeop showed some nice touches when on the pitch against Ansan.  He linked up with Willyan nicely at times so the former national team striker will be hoping to have made manager Seol Ki-hyeon think again about his starting lineup.  With Gyeongnam not playing to their full potential of late, it's going to take senior players like Baek Sung-dong, Ko Kyung-min, and Jang Hyeok-jin to pull the squad through the tough patch they currently find themselves in.  

Gyeongnam are going to need Baek Sung-dong to show his value to the team more than ever on Monday

Bucheon FC 1995 will have to make do without their two main strikers in former Gyeongnam player Park Chang-jun and Brazilian Cristian.  Both received straight red cards against Busan IPark a fortnight ago so will have to serve the second of their two-game bans.  Former loanee at Gyeongnam last season Han Ji-ho has been in good form of late and his experience in their uptick in form has been key to their improvement on the field.  Han has been playing very well alongside club captain Cho Soo-chul in the center of the park.  They will have to improve on their discipline if they are to get anything from the game.  Bucheon picked up five yellow cards last time out and two reds the week prior.  Manager Lee Young-min will know that they can get something from the game if they can keep eleven men on the pitch.  

 

Captain Cho Soo-chul will be looking to stamp his authority on the game on Monday night

Who to Watch

Willyan 

It's hard to look past the Brazilian winger for this one.  He has been in fine form for the Reds despite their bad form of late.  He has bagged himself four goals in his last six games and has been heavily involved in what Gyeongnam does going forward.  If there is ever a time Seol Ki-hyeon needs undoubtedly his best player to start performing it's now.  To his credit, after a spell out of the team, he has come back looking leaner, stronger, and fitter. 

[READ:2021 K League 2 Round 21 Preview]