Singapore vs. Chinese Taipei: Tsutomu Ogura [1296x729]
Singapore vs. Chinese Taipei: Tsutomu Ogura [1296x729] (Credit: Football Association of Singapore)

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Just four days ago, even though it arrived in unconvincing circumstances, Tsutomu Ogura was still able to savour the high of a first win since taking over as Singapore coach in February.

On Monday, he would have known in no certain terms that he was back on earth as the Lions' final warmup match before next month's ASEAN Championship saw them suffer a shock 3-2 loss to Chinese Taipei.

The result would have been disappointing enough but the manner of the display was cause for greater consternation.

Singapore failed to fire a single warning shot in the first 70 minutes, showed little fluency in the final third while also being far too disorganised at the back, and only scored two late consolation through direct play rather than genuinely carving apart the visitors.

This against a Chinese Taipei outfit who had lost their past seven matches and are even lower than Singapore at 168th in the FIFA world rankings.

If there is any sort of defence that can be erected in the path of the critics that will most certainly becoming for Ogura, it is that he genuinely did experiment in this final international break before the ASEAN Championship.

He made nine changes to the starting XI that beat Myanmar 3-2 last Thursday, and revealed he was denied the chance to tinker even further due to injuries.

If there is ever a time to try something in the hope that it could be relied on when it is actually time for business, it is during such friendlies and, for that, Ogura believes there are positives to take out from even Tuesday's loss.

"We want to challenge ourselves with a new system or new combinations," he said in his post-match news conference. "Things that we would have already anticipated if they happen in the future.

"A player who we now know can play in a different position, or some that are better to come on in the final 20 minutes as a game changer rather than being in the first XI.

"These are the kind of things I've learnt over the past two games and, for me, it's a good advantage to have for the AFF (ASEAN Championship)."

The Japanese tactician did concede that the result itself was far from acceptable, adding: "Of course, I'm not satisfied that we didn't win. That could be a point of disappointment.

"We want to win every game, so there were some good points but also some points we need to improve in."

And when asked about the lack of urgency or endeavour the Lions showed for the majority of the game before their late rally, Ogura reveals that it was something he had already addressed with the them.

"In the first half, we didn't make any great chances -- that's a problem," he admitted.

"Compared to the last game (against Myanmar), we had many chances. This game, we were sleeping in the first half.

"I told the players they had to show more fight and make more running, especially if we have chance. We only had one or two players in the box when we needed three or four or five.

"Compared to the last five minutes, everyone wanted to go inside the box to try and get the win. That's when we can make things happen.

"I've told them many times but sometimes just being aware of the concept is not enough. Today, we learned a lot of things for AFF (the ASEAN Championship)."