IF Ludlow Bernard and his Harbour View team intend to retain their Jamaica Premier League title this season they need to beat 2021 champions Cavalier this evening.

This game kicks off at Sabina Park at 8:00 pm.

The earlier game in the double-header is evenly poised, with Mount Pleasant and Arnett Gardens taking a 2-2 aggregate into their 5:00 pm kick-off.

Cavalier hold a 1-0 lead from the first leg of their semi-final tie through Orlando Russell’s 51st-minute goal on Monday.

Harbour View had more of the ball back then but that was partly due to Speid’s game plan to have his side sit back and soak up pressure.

But Bernard is confident in his team’s ability to turn the game around in spite of the lack of a suitable player in the number nine role.

“I’m not perturbed about it,” he said. “I have work to do, that’s for sure.

“What Cavalier gave us is what we expected. We were rather careless at the back in that instance to allow that goal, and we were probably lacking in creativity up top. We dominated the midfield but, at the same time, we don’t have anything to show for it. Cavalier did very well in blocking up the lanes — and that’s the team that they are. They’re gonna be very very stubborn so we’re gonna have our work cut out to overcome their lead, as it stands right now.”

Cavalier Technical Director Rudolph Speid understands the threat Harbour View now poses, especially now with them being under more pressure to defend their title, but he says it will not be easy to break his team down.

“One of the things that every team needs to be worried about with us is the pace that we carry,” Speid said. “When we take off pace, we can add more pace so our method always has something to do with that amount of pace that we have. Even if we look like we’re being outplayed, it doesn’t matter; we’re just dropping shape in the spaces that will deny teams from scoring, then you know in the blink of an eye we’ll be in your box — and that’s always gonna be dangerous.”

— Rachid Parchment