As Song Uiyoung’s corner sailed through the air toward the back post, Sailors skipper Bailey Wright kept his eyes firmly locked on the ball.
With sheer strength, the central defender shrugged off his marker and connected with a thumping header from close range to give his side the crucial opener. The goal ultimately set the tone for a dominant Sailors performance against Kuala Lumpur (KL) City, as they secured their first win in the 2024/25 ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup.
“It was an important result for us — not just as a team, but as a club and for Singapore football,” said Bailey. “Obviously, we were disappointed with our previous two games in the Shopee Cup because we had set out to win, but we put in a good performance this time. Now, we just have to keep building and getting stronger from here.”
It was Bailey’s fifth goal in all competitions this season, with all of them coming from either corners or set pieces. Beyond his goal-scoring prowess, however, Bailey was particularly pleased with the battling defensive performance his side delivered in the game.
After all, the Sailors had registered their first clean sheet in 10 games, with their last one coming against Zhejiang Professional in the AFC Champions League Two back in September.
“Clean sheets are always a bonus because, as a defender, that’s something you always strive for, so I hope there are many more to come,” explained the former Australian international, who joined the club in July 2023.
“To be honest, we’ve put in a lot of solid defensive performances, but this is football — we want to attack, and sometimes you concede goals. We have to remember these are tough competitions, so the most important thing is winning the game.”
Turning his attention back to the Singapore Premier League (SPL) as it returns from a long hiatus, the 32-year-old shared his enthusiasm about competing on the domestic front once again.
The Sailors are three points behind table-toppers BG Tampines Rovers, but crucially have three games in hand as they head into the final few months of the campaign.
“We’ve obviously had a lot of competitive fixtures in the Champions League, but it’s been a while since our last league game, so it’s good to be back,” he said. “If you speak to anyone who plays football, they’ll tell you that you want to keep playing games and have a regular calendar of fixtures — and now that’s started. Our target is to get back our position at the top.”
The Sailors’ next challenge awaits at Brunei’s Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium, where they will face Brunei DPMM on Monday (13 January).
For Bailey, this marks another reunion with head coach Jamie McAllister, with whom he shares a close relationship. The duo were teammates at Preston North End in 2012, and McAllister later served as Bailey’s assistant coach during his stints at Bristol City and Sunderland.
Admitting that he was looking forward to the prospect of facing his long-time friend, Bailey said, “He’s someone I still keep in touch with, and I know he’s a hardworking and committed coach.
“I’m sure he’s got the team working hard because if there’s one thing about him, it’s that he’s either a fighter or a winner. That’s the mark he’ll want to leave on his team. They’ll be compact and organised, so we have to be ready for that.”
McAllister’s DPMM side currently sit sixth in the nine-team table, but have suffered just one defeat in their last eight games. Since taking the helm in July, the former Scotland international has already masterminded victories over Geylang International, BG Tampines, and Albirex Niigata (S).
The Bruneian outfit further strengthened their foreign contingent during the mid-season break with the additions of Icelandic international central defender Damir Muminović and Latvian forward Davis Ikaunieks. Ikaunieks, who boasts 47 international caps, also brings UEFA Europa League experience from his time with FK Jablonec.
The Sailors’ task will be made even tougher by the absence of defender Lionel Tan and Song, both of whom are suspended.
Reflecting on the threat posed by DPMM, Bailey said, “They are a strong team that has improved and used the break to work on their game. But ultimately, it’s about how we play and how we can hurt the opposition.
“As with every match, we’ll prepare properly and put in the work. We respect every opponent, but we’ll go into this game with confidence and belief that we can beat anyone.”
With the Sailors competing on four fronts, Bailey is determined to make this a memorable season for the Sailors.
He said, “We did very well in the first half of the season, and we hope that by the end, it will be a memorable and historic season for us, both as individuals and as a team.”
