Timing his jump to perfection, Lion City Sailors centre-back Bailey Wright rose highest in the box to nod home Adam Swandi’s pinpoint corner for his team’s third – and final – goal of the night.

The Australian was immediately embraced by his jubilant teammates, who knew that his 84th-minute goal had just guaranteed them all three points against Tanjong Pagar United.

And so it proved, as the Sailors eventually ran out 3-0 winners against the Jaguars last Sunday (7 July) at the Bishan Stadium.

Notably, this was Bailey’s second goal in consecutive home games, having found the back of the net in the 7-1 thrashing of defending Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions Albirex Niigata (S) last month. With two goals to his name, the 31-year-old has already equalled his goal tally from last season.

Bailey, however, was keen to downplay his individual contribution, and instead emphasised the Sailors’ resilience and tenacity in beating Tanjong Pagar.

“There’s going to be times throughout the season when… we have to find different ways to play and win. I’m happy that I scored that header, but the most important thing for us is to win, and we fully deserved the three points,” said the Australian.

“We could have had more (goals), but I think there’s still more to come from us. It’s still early in the season. We know how good we can be, and we know we can still reach another level. That is what’s driving us in every game – to get better and keep winning.”

It has not gone unnoticed that the Sailors have looked more threatening on set-pieces this season, and Bailey admits that it is an aspect of the game the team has been working hard on.

He explained, “Set pieces are a significant part of football, and considering the quality we have throughout the team – both in terms of the set-piece takers and the players getting on the end of chances – we know we are capable of capitalising more on these opportunities. We’ve discussed it internally, and it’s definitely something that we pay attention to.”

At the other end of the pitch, Bailey has forged a strong partnership with Toni Datković in the heart of the Sailors defence. Despite joining the club in February this year, Toni – who came with experience in Spain’s LaLiga 2 – has quickly established himself as a key presence in the backline alongside Bailey, impressing with his ball-playing abilities and aerial dominance.

Having seen Toni up close in action, Bailey knows just how good the Croatian is.

“From the moment Toni walked in the door, he brought a top mentality. And you can see that on the pitch – he’s real quality.” said Bailey.

Bailey also attributes his on-field partnership with Toni to their strong relationship off the pitch.

“When you have a good relationship with someone off the field, you tend to have a good relationship with them on the pitch,” shared Bailey. “Toni and I get each other without having to say too much at times. When you feel that sense of confidence in your partner, you go out there and have fun. It’s always nice when you’re playing alongside a mate.”

Around this time last year, Bailey travelled more than 10,000km to carve out a new chapter of his career in Singapore with the Sailors.

Despite a rocky start to his Sailors career – he was sent off on his debut – Bailey has since won over the fans with his gutsy, all-action displays in defence. Now with a full pre-season under his belt, the former Sunderland captain is determined to push on even further.

“It was quite an experience, getting a red card on my debut.” Bailey recounted with a chuckle. “It was tough at the start without my family here, and when I got injured. This season though, I’ve had a full pre-season with the club, and now that I have my family living with me, I feel more settled in Singapore.”

Having already lifted both the Singapore Cup and Community Shield with the Sailors, Bailey is eager to add more silverware to his collection.

He stated, “A goal of mine this season is to play well and help the team that wins. It was nice to come here and lift two trophies, but I’m always hungry for more.”

Up next for Bailey and the Sailors is an intriguing encounter against fourth-placed Balestier Khalsa at the Bishan Stadium on Saturday (13 July) evening.

Though the Sailors – who are unbeaten this season – are viewed as the favourites to win, Bailey is under no illusions about the challenge that the Tigers will pose this weekend.

“They (Balestier) are doing well, and we know that they’ll be tough opposition. Overall, I think the league is stronger this season, and we have full respect for everyone we play. We’re well aware of what Balestier are capable of, and I’m looking forward to the game.”

The Tigers have only lost just one out of their six games played so far – a 4-2 defeat to title challengers BG Tampines Rovers. They also possess in-form forward Kodai Tanaka, who has already scored eight goals this season after making a successful recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury that kept him out for the majority of 2023 when he was still with the Sailors.

While acknowledging that his former teammate will be a threat for Balestier, Bailey is looking forward to the challenge of keeping him in check.

“We know he (Kodai) is a good player and tough to play against. But as a footballer, that’s what you want. I’m sure he’ll be relishing the challenge as much as I am,” Bailey said.

“Kodai has had a tough time with his injury, but he worked really hard to get himself back fit. It seems like he’s enjoying his football and scoring goals. I’m just happy that he’s back to doing what he loves, because at the end of the day, everyone wants a healthy and happy career.”

Nonetheless, Bailey is confident that his team will be able to come away from the challenge of Balestier with all three points.

“We have a lot of firepower and quality within the team to score, and it’s evident in the strong goal difference we’ve amassed so far,” Bailey noted. “I think we just need to keep doing and executing it better as we continue to improve and practice.

“By continuing to build on the foundation that has brought us success so far, we will grow stronger as a team with each game.”