Buriram allowed Sisaket to come from behind twice by gifting them two soft goals. It was an all-too familiar story as a game that Buriram dominated was allowed to slip away.
The defence is all at sea with ball-watching and slack marking recurring with alarming regularity. The sooner Koravit returns the better as he has left a huge hole that no-one has been able to fill.
With Macena and co arriving on Sunday, it is not looking good despite the return of Diogo. The good news was the return of Anon and he made a big difference when he was introduced in the second-half.
Buriram again took an early lead in the tenth minute when Anawin crossed from the right for Yong to back-heel the ball to Jakkaphan in the box. His initial attempt was blocked and when the ball looped up into the air, he sent a header into the corner of the net at the far-post.
After eighteen minutes a Jakkaphan free-kick was half-cleared to Surat who fired over from the edge of the area. Three minutes later Jakkaphan found Supachok with a delicate chip over the top but the youngster delayed his shot which was blocked at the expense of a corner.
Buriram allowed Sisaket a clear shooting chance after twenty minutes through slack marking but fortunately the shot was too high. Just after the half-hour Buriram were indebted to Narubadin when he made a double tackle to thwart a dangerous Sisaket attack.
Buriram almost increased their lead shortly after when a dangerous right-wing Anawin cross was hit against the advancing Supachok by a defender but the ball flew just over the bar.
In the thirty-seventh minute Yong played a neat one-two with Supachok but the latter was not quick enough to make the most of the chance. Anawin then received a yellow card in the fortieth minute, rather harshly I might add.
A minute before the interval Buriram were caught cold by a quick throw-out by the keeper following a Buriram free-kick. The ball was played through first-time for Phuwadol to advance and send the ball under the advancing Siwarak with not a defender in sight.
However, deep into stoppage time Buriram progressed down the right and Narubadin sent over an excellent cross for Jakkaphan to rise and send a perfect header into the net from eight yards.
Buriram certainly deserved their lead but the defence was again looking fragile and an equalizer certainly was a distinct possibility.
Buriram replaced Chitipat with Suree at half-time and his first contribution was to give away a silly free-kick , right in front of goal , twenty yards out. Fortunately, Siwarak was able to make a comfortable save from the well-struck shot.
In the fiftieth minute Buriram were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty following a low Jakkaphan right-wing cross, when Supachok was felled just inside the area but the referee saw nothing amiss.
Buriram came close again five minutes later when Narubadin sent over a deep right-wing cross which found Sathaporn and his downward header was scrambled away by the keeper at the second attempt.
Sisaket drew level completely out of the blue in the sixty-first minute when a right-wing corner was turned into the net at the near post by Narubadin. If there had been a defender on the post it would have been a simple clearance but the new coach has decided not to position defenders on the posts from corners. Something which I have always been totally against.
Four minutes later Supachok was played through in the right of the area but he sent a low ball in which was neither a shot or a cross and the ball went harmlessly wide. Straight after we saw the return of Anon following his long absence, with Sathaporn making way.
Jakkaphan was shown a yellow card in the seventieth minute and shortly after Tunez had a header blocked on the line. Five minutes later a Jakkaphan right-wing corner again found Tunez but his low goal-bound shot was deflected for a corner.
Immediately after Chaowat made a good run down the left, getting through two tackles but he tried to beat the keeper at his near post and the chance was gone.
Ten minutes from time Jakkaphan crossed from the right for Anawin to power in a header which the keeper turned over the bar. A yard either side and it was a certain goal.
Buriram then brought on Adul for Surat and once again his first two contributions were to give away a free-kick. Adul has done little to show that he is anywhere near the standard required for Premier League football.
Well into stoppage time Suree received a yellow card and with time just about up, Adul tried a ridiculous shot from thirty-five yards when there were plenty of bodies in the box and you can guess where the ball ended up.
So two points tossed away again and Buriram are a long way off the leaders. Third place and the FA Cup are the realistic targets in order to secure a place in the Champions League.
Next up, Bangkok United on Sunday at the I-mobile Stadium, 7pm. This will probably see former Buriram favourite Macena make his debut. Let’s hope he doesn’t make Buriram pay for the very unwise decision to allow him to leave.