The reeling Dawgs got face to face and made contact with their local rivals in the league’s first-ever Singaporean derby, dropping the out-of-sorts Vardy for Jovic up front. It was a cagey game but the hosts finally caught a break when Skriniar hammered a clearance into his own team-mate, Gaya, which bounced back into the MiBs’ own net. Jovic then made a statement to Conte by extending the lead shortly afterwards. The visitors had been more threatening prior to the goals and did get one back through Mbappe but Rabiot let the derby atmosphere get to him with a reckless challenge that got him sent off just eight minutes after emerging from the bench. It was a battle, but one that ended in a vital breakthrough for the Pocket Dawgs and broke their rivals’ 100% start.

By Glenda Carousel