Title destiny still in our hands – Briffa

Roderick Briffa has called on his Valletta team-mates to produce the right response to last week’s derby upset to Floriana as they look to put their title challenge back on track with victory over Birkirkara tomorrow. Backed by an impressive run of 11 successive victories, Valletta seemed closing in on a 23rd league title but a 2-0 reverse to Floriana blew the title race wide open as now they are only three points clear of Hibs while third-placed Balzan are one behind the champions. Birkirkara, too, could have their say in this year’s run-in as a win tomorrow would see the championship race developing into a four-way tussle with only two matches left. Valletta enjoy a perfect record against Birkirkara in the league this season, with December’s 4-0 victory seeing Stripes coach Giovanni Tedesco getting the sack and replaced by Drazen Besek. After a difficult spell at the start of the year, Besek’s team is finally clicking into gear. Strengthened by the return of a number of key players from injury, Birkirkara embarked on a run of five successive wins that pushed them within touching distance of the league pacesetters and six points clear of Floriana in the race for fourth...