Buriram turned in their worst performance of the season against a spirited but poor Chainat side , having to settle for an embarrassing draw. Indeed, if it hadn’t been for a post and a goal-line clearance , it could have been even worse.

The Champions looked completely bereft of attacking ideas with Yong, Weslley, Sittichok and Anan all showing once again that they are not up to playing at this level.

The watching Diogo must be wondering if by the time he returns next month, Buriram will have slipped too far behind to mount a serious title challenge. The defence too looked vulnerable to counter-attacks on several occasions, having reverted to playing with three at the back.

Having four at the back with a deep, holding midfield player is not a defensive formation . Suchao would be ideal in the holding role and Tunez would be free to join the attack more often. Koravit has been a big miss and it is to be hoped he returns soon.

The overall passing was sloppy to say the least, with just about the whole side being guilty of giving the ball away too often.

On problem that needs to be addressed immediately is the attitude shown by Tunez to officials. It is completely unacceptable and it WILL result in a red card, sooner rather than later.

Now for the game. Suree came in at right-back and Supachok kept his place in the midfield . Weslley and Yong were up front , with Suchao, Seul-Ki and Anawin completing the midfield.

Buriram should have taken the lead in the third minute when Anawin sent over a lovely cross from the right for the unmarked Weslley to direct his header closer to the corner-flag than the goal.

The visitors almost snatched a surprise lead in the fourteenth minute when Suree gave the ball away wide left and a forward cut inside and curled a good shot past Siwarak onto the far-post.

Three minutes later Anawin headed a goal-bound header off the line following a right-wing corner. Buriram then had a great chance in the twentieth minute when Seul-Ki found Yong in the box with a lovely pass. The Korean turned inside his marker before sending a right-foot shot wide of the far-post.

Little of any attacking note occurred until the thirty-eighth minute when Suchao picked up the ball just outside the box before hitting a powerful shot which the keeper just got a fingertip to , diving to his right.

A minute from the interval another good Anawin cross from the right found Weslley in space but the Brazilian’s first touch was dreadful and the ball was easily cleared downfield.

A poor first-half in which Buriram could easily have found themselves behind. The depressing thing was that looking at the bench, there was no-one there to bring on and change the game.

Buriram brought on Sittichok to replace Supachok which was a little harsh on the youngster. He had been fairly anonymous but he was often left with little support and  his runs were not being picked up by his teammates.

Five minutes in , Tunez headed a Suchao right-wing corner over the bar as Buriram began to exert a little bit of pressure. In the fifty-ninth minute Anawin was replaced by Anan , a surprise as it was Anawin who was providing the only telling crosses.

Shortly after Suree was shown a yellow card for a late tackle before Weslley sent a weak shot well wide. Buriram came close in the sixty-seventh minute when from Suchao’s right-wing corner, Tunez was inches too high with his header, which left the big defender banging the ground with his fist in frustration.

Four minutes later we witnessed one of the greatest goal-line clearances you will ever see. A deep right-wing cross was returned into the middle by Weslley for Anan to send a free-header goalwards. It looked in all the way until a defender launched himself into the air across goal to head the ball clear with the keeper beaten. Remarkable !

Yong was then replaced by Chaowat as the clock ticked on. Seven minutes from time the ineffective Sittichok finally fired in a good shot which the keeper turned round the post, diving low to his left.

Deep into stoppage time Anan received a yellow card for getting involved in one of those stupid grabbing episodes whilst waiting for a corner to be taken. There was still time for Suchao to bring another excellent save by the keeper from his well-struck free-kick.

To say this performance was disappointing would be an understatement. Chainat are a team that the Buriram of old would have taken apart. Where the goals are going to come from in the weeks ahead is anybody’s guess.

Buriram travel to Osatspa on Wednesday May 11  7pm before facing Army United on Saturday May 14  6pm at Thunder Castle.