A new coach will be at the helm of August Town as they try to kick-start their Digicel Premier League season, but they shouldn’t expect Arnett Gardens to play Santa Claus at the UWI Bowl this afternoon.

The struggling August Town, who have garnered just 12 points from 17 games, are expected to name Paul Young as Calvert Fitzgerald’s replacement for the away trip to Sporting Central Academy on December 27.

In the meantime, however, assistant coach and part owner Dwight Morgan will be in charge and he expects nothing less than a win after showing improved form over the last two games.

Said Morgan: “A win is very important. We have been playing better since the start of the second round but we’re just not concentrating for the duration of the games.”

He added: “We should have won the last two games but gave up goals in the last seconds… we’ve worked on it this week and hopefully we want all three points against Arnett this week.”

August Town, with just two wins, six draws and nine losses, are rooted to the bottom of the league, but more importantly, they are just three points behind 10th- and 11th-placed teams Humble Lions and Village United, respectively.

The last time they played Arnett Gardens, they were demolished 1-4, with Kevin King grabbing three goals. But their last two performances are encouraging and Arnett could be in for a fight.

August Town gave up a 90th-minute goal and were held to a 1-1 draw by Harbour View, and even worse, they gave up a 95th-minute penalty to draw 2-2 with Village.

They will be without the suspended goalkeeper Devon Haughton, who has scored one of their 11 goals, and will find it hard to keep out Kevin Wilson, Kevin King, Leon Strickland and Kwame Richardson.

Arnett have been faltering of late and also want to reignite their title challenge.

In the other games, leaders Harbour View (33) should be able to contain the DPL’s topscorer Devon Hodges and secure win number 10 against Rivoli United at Compound.

Champions Tivoli Gardens (32), with the second best away record of four wins, are favoured to get the better of Village at Elliston Wakeland.

Third-placed St Georges (31) host Boys’ Town (27) in the marquee match-up at Lynch Park. Both teams battled to a 1-1 draw at Collie Smith Drive in the first round and another close encounter is in store.

In-form Waterhouse (27) face a tricky trip to Effortville to take on a Humble Lions (15) team buoyed by a 2-1 win over Rivoli last week.

Waterhouse have won eight of their last 12 games to move within striking distance of the leaders, but will have their hands full against Humble Lions.

Former champions Portmore United, in sixth spot on 21 points, are struggling to find the back of the net and Sporting Central (18) could capitalise.

A win for the Donovan Duckie-coached Sporting, in eighth spot, could see them reverse positions with Portmore and trigger the fire alarm bells in St Catherine.

Today’s Games

3:00 pm Village vs Tivoli @ Elliston Wakeland

3:00 pm St Georges vs Boys’ Town @ Lynch Park

3:00 pm Humble Lions vs Waterhouse FC @ Effortville

3:00 pm August Town vs Arnett Gardens @ UWI Bowl

6:30 pm Harbour View vs Rivoli @ Harbour View

7:30 pm Portmore vs Sporting @ Ferdie Neita