Preview: Gangwon FC vs Jeonnam Dragons

Off-form Gangwon might be all-but safe, but they still need a few more points to make sure. They take on a Jeonnam Dragons side that is fighting for their lives. Jeonnam need a win to close the gap on Seoul and Sangju Sangmu above them if they want to avoid the dreaded relegation playoff. Steve Price with the preview.
(image via K League)

Last Time Out

Kim Byung-soo changed up his Gangwon team for the match against FC Seoul, making some surprise choices in his lineup as he tried to turn around Gangwon’s form. Dylan McGowan made his first start under Kim Byung-soo, but rather than playing in defence, he was used as a midfielder. More surprising was the use of two target men, with Uroš Đerić and Jung Jo-gook both starting. The plan didn’t work out too well with Seoul having the majority of the chances and when Park Chu-young took advantage of a Gangwon mistake late on, it looked like Gangwon would leave Sangam with nothing to show for it. But then, straight from the kick-off Jung Seung-yong grabbed a shock equaliser to move Gangwon slightly closer to safety.

Highlights: here
Jeonnam Dragons were in action on Wednesday night for the KEB Hana Bank FA Cup semi-final against Daegu FC. Two stunning goals, one from Edgar Silva, and the other from Kim Dae-won, sent Andre Gaspar's side into the final. Lee Sang-heon pulled a goal back on the hour mark for the Dragons but the three-times winners were unable to prevent Daegu from advancing to their first ever FA Cup Final.

Highlights: here

Previous Meetings

Kim Byung-soo got off to the perfect start after taking over as Gangwon manager when Gangwon beat Jeonnam Dragons one-nil in his first match in charge. Uroš Đerić was the scorer in that match, grabbing the winner in the 84th minute in a match with few chances.

Team News

No suspensions for Gangwon, but it is hard to predict whether Kim Byung-soo will try his four-four-two experiment for a second match in a row or whether he will try some formation with one target man such as 3-4-3 or 4-2-3-1. Dylan McGowan will also be hoping for another chance in Gangwon’s starting line-up.

Jeonnam have no suspensions to concern themselves with but Han Chan-hee, Heo Jae-won, Kim Sun-woo, and Vedran Jugović are all one caution away from serving a one-match ban.

The Adversary

Jeonnam Dragons' FA Cup dream is over after they lost 2-1 to Daegu in midweek. Now it's back to the reality of their relegation struggle. They lost their last K League game, a relegation six-pointer against Sangju Sangmu, 1-0 due to a Yoon Bit-garam goal midway through the second half, and that result has put the dragons in a precarious position. Jeonnam are four points behind FC Seoul and Sangju Sangmu, and if they don't get a result in this game then it will be very tough to avoid the relegation playoff. Jeonnam have just one win in five but are fighting for their lives and may have that extra ten percent of effort that could help them get a result against Gangwon.

Prediction

Jeonnam are fighting for their lives and could see a Gangwon side that is already all-but-safe as a good chance to get a vital win. Expect Jeonnam to fight to the end and perhaps grab a surprise win.

Gangwon 0-1 Jeonnam Dragons