DOLLAH Salleh hopes experience will prevail when Malaysia take on three-time winners Thailand in an AFF Cup Group B match at Jalan Besar Stadium today.
Malaysia, who drew 0-0 with Myanmar in their opening game on Sunday, cannot afford to lose while Thailand, who have three points from the 2-1 win over Singapore, will qualify for the semi-finals if they win.
The ambitious Kiatisuk Senamuang claimed his side played only 70 per cent of their true ability against Singapore and the 42-year-old is confident that an improved Thai team will face Malaysia today.
Kiatisuk brought 11 players from his Asian Games squad that finished fourth in Incheon and eight of them (including substitutes) played against Singapore while Dollah started with seven from the 2012 AFF Cup in the draw with Myanmar.
For the record, Malaysia have not beaten Thailand since the string of three wins between 2002 and 2004. Malaysia last defeated Thailand in an AFF Cup group match, winning 2-1 in Kuala Lumpur, on Dec 14, 2004.
Despite facing the wrath of his critics in Malaysia, the jovial Dollah was calm when responding to questions from the media in Singapore.
Dollah, who has prepared well tactically, hopes none of his players would get send off after ending three straight matches (including two friendlies) with 10 players.
Gary Steven Robbat will serve a suspension today while striker Amri Yahyah and winger Azamuddin Akil are on one yellow card each. They will be suspended for the next match against Singapore on Saturday if they are cautioned today.
Dollah will field former captain Safiq Rahim in midfield as replacement for Robbat while he could bench Azamuddin and deploy Amri to the right flank position with 2010 AFF Cup top scorer Safee Sali partnering Norshahrul Idlan Talaha in attack.
The coach also has an option to play Baddrol Baktiar on the flanks if he chooses to maintain the partnership of Amri and Norshahrul.
“We will score tomorrow,” warned Dollah yesterday. “Norshahrul is trying very hard in training and maybe he will produce something special against Thailand.”
“I don’t want Malaysia to end the match tomorrow with 10 players. No more red cards. It will affect our performance if it happens again. However, I also do not want those on yellow cards to play cautiously. I want them to produce their normal game.”
Despite having done his homework on Thailand, Dollah admitted his team need to something special to win today.
“Thailand may have many young players but they have been playing as a unit for a long time. They rely on speed and individual talent.”
Captain Shukor Adan said: “Thailand have good technique but if we can play to strategy, I think we can stop them from dominating.”
A confident Kiatisuk said: “Our team exceeded expectations (against Singapore), so we are confident at this stage that we can end the group stage with maximum points.”
Kiatisuk shrugged off concerns over the artificial pitch being used for the match. “I don’t see it as a problem, because the team have already trained on the same kind of pitch in Thailand and also in Singapore.”