SINGAPORE — LionsXII head coach V Sundramoorthy has issued a plea to be judged only after this Saturday’s vital Malaysia Cup clash against Perak.

Tuesday’s 1-0 loss to the same rivals left the Malaysian Super League (MSL) champions bottom of Group D with just one point from three games, and defeat against Azraai Khor Abdullah’s side in the reverse fixture at the Jalan Besar Stadium this Saturday will all but end the LionsXII’s hopes of achieving a league and cup double.

“Our Malaysia Cup season really begins on Saturday. Judge me and the team after the match. It’s a match we must win to keep our quarter-final hopes alive and, believe me, we will deliver at the Jalan Besar Stadium,” said Sundram, 47.

“I know the team can hit a golden patch and on Saturday the real LionsXII will turn up.”

The LionsXII will be banking on their familiarity at the 7,000-capacity Jalan Besar Stadium and its artificial turf, where they remained unbeaten throughout the MSL season earlier this year, winning 10 of their 11 fixtures there.

But the former Singapore international star knows that will not be enough against an in-form Perak, who top Group D after having beaten Sarawak 2-1 and drawn 1-1 against Kedah before Tuesday’s win over the LionsXII.

One area that urgently needs attention is in defence, where they have been uncharacteristically porous. They boasted the best defensive record in the MSL with 15 goals conceded in 22 games, but have let in five goals in three Malaysia Cup games.

“The goals we have conceded are very alarming — two penalties (one each against Kedah and Sarawak) and one own goal (against Sarawak),” said Sundram. “They could have been avoided. But on the brighter side, we also created chances against Perak but just could not score.

“Maybe it’s all about confidence. Now, we just do not have it. But I am confident we will get it right.”

Perak could seal their place in the last eight of the Malaysia Cup if they beat the LionsXII again this Saturday, and Azraai believes the pressure is now on the LionsXII.

“We have seven points now and one more win will see us through to the last eight,” he said.

“Now the LionsXII know the Malaysia Cup competition is a different ball game compared to the League. It’s a competition which demands so much. But I can see the LionsXII looking so jaded and tired. The fatigue in them shows.”