Premier League Pictorial

Traditional big clubs Valletta, Floriana and Hamrun Spartans, winners of 50 league championships between them since 1909, are finding the going tough in this early phase of the season.

While the Spartans are still the only side without a point after an upset to Pietà Hotspurs on Saturday, Floriana and Valletta have a single point to show from three matches after two comprehensive defeats at the hands of Hibs and Msida SJ respectively.

The Paolites hit a six-minute first-half jackpot against Floriana. They scored the goals that paved the way to a 3-0 win against lacklustre opponents who fell to goals from Andrew Cohen, Haruna Doda and Terrence Scerri.

Valletta had a promising start against Msida. But, after Renie Forace's goal they were outplayed by a more determined Saints side led in attack by striking tandem Ibrahim Babantude and Daniel Nwoke.

The Nigerians scored a goal each with the other coming from a David Carabott free-kick.

The Citizens need to steady their boat very quickly because their next two matches are against opponents from the upper echelons of the Premier League standings - Marsaxlokk and Sliema.

On Sunday, Sliema Wanderers experienced no such problems in cruising to a 6-0 win against newcomers Mosta, weakened by the reds cards to Miroljub Spasic and Dyson Falzon.

Danilo Doncic scored the first hat-trick of the season with the other goals for the champions, the only team with maximum points so far, coming from the impressive Daniel Bogdanovic, Stefan Giglio and Ivan Woods' penalty.

There were no victors in the plum fixture on Monday when title challengers Birkirkara and big-spenders Marsaxlokk settled for a one-all draw.

The Stripes played most of the second half with a man less after the dismissal of Lino Galea. Cleaven Frendo put the southerners in front from a penalty but Michael Galea came off the bench to rescue a point for the Stripes.

On Saturday, the Hotspurs bounced back from a disappointing 4-0 defeat to Hibernians with a 4-2 victory over the Spartans.

Carmelo Sciuto scored a brace for the winners with Martin Deanov and Keith Darmanin netting the other goals. Gaetan Spiteri and David Galea were on the mark for Hamrun who have to lift their game considerably to avoid serious consequences at the end of the season.

Next Premier League Fixtures

National Stadium
Tomorrow - 6.30 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Mosta; 8.30 p.m. Sliema vs Hamrun.
Sept. 10 - 4 p.m. Msida vs Floriana; 6 p.m. Hibs vs Hamrun.
Sept. 11 - 4 p.m. Pieta vs Mosta; 6 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Valletta.
Sept. 12 - 7 p.m. Sliema vs Birkirkara.