Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter

The backlash faced by opposing teams when a club changes its coach has been seen time and time again. Rivoli United will be keeping that firmly in mind when they go into the 18-round Red Stripe Premier match tomorrow against Montego Bay United at Wespow Park, with kick-off set for 3 p.m.

MoBay are set to be without a coach after the resignation of Donovan Duckie on Wednesday, with senior player Dwayne Ambusley to lead the team in the interim.

Rivoli United's head coach, Calvert Fitzgerald, is very wary as he anticipates that the MoBay players will be out to prove a point.

"In international football, a side is most dangerous the very week they lose their coach," Fitzgerald said.

"Whoever comes in, the players want to make a statement, so I am expecting an extremely tough battle from them (MoBay)."

Rivoli played out a nil-all draw with Waterhouse in the previous week, which saw them fall out of the top four to fifth in the 12-team standings, with 23 points.

"We are trying to get a result that will put us back among the top four," Fitzgerald said.

The departure of Duckie came as a shock to many as MoBay currently sit second in the standings on 29 points and have gone unbeaten in their last 10 games, but seven of those have been draws, including the last three.

"It was surprising, but what made me feel a bit better is that the players were back at it right away," club president Orville Powell said.

"The players are still disappointed, but they are in good spirits.

"We are still above 10 teams, so if you're using the Premier League as a measuring stick, we are still doing well."

Powell will not be hasty in trying to find a long-term replacement for Duckie as he is keen on someone who can maintain unity at the club.

"The chemistry and everything that is there now, it is very important for us to maintain that," Powell said. "So we have to carefully think about it before we put either a short-term or long-term coach in place."

leading scorers

When the two teams met in the first round, MoBay ran out easy 3-0 winners courtesy of a brace from Dino Williams, with Lesley St Fluer getting the other. Both players have scored five goals apiece to date to be the team's joint leading scorers.

"We have played Rivoli before and we had a plan and we won't change it," Powell said.

"The coach might be gone, but the philosophy, ideas, and principles that we use remain."

The defeat marked the newly promoted Rivoli's worst so far this season, but Fitzgerald is confident that his team, led by Devon Hodges, who he calls 'Mr Rivoli', will apply themselves better this time around.

"I think what got them against Montego Bay United was pace," Fitzgerald said.

"But our team has come to terms with the Premier League and that should not catch us again."

MoBay will be without the injured Jermaine Woozencroft and Cordell Simpson, while absent for Rivoli will be midfielders Michael Blygen and Ross Burton.

Tomorrow's matches:

August Town vs Humble Lion at UWI Bowl 3 p.m.

Boys' Town vs Portmore United at Collie Smith Complex 3 p.m.

Montego Bay United vs Rivoli United at Wespow Park 3 p.m.

Cavalier vs Arnett Gardens at Stadium East 4:30 p.m.

Tivoli Gardens vs Waterhouse at Edward Seaga Complex 5 p.m.

Monday's game:

Harbour View vs Sporting Central at Harbour View Stadium 7 p.m.