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Sivasspor coach Bülent Uygun is confident his side can keep up their surprise start to the season when the Turkish Süper Lig resumes on 13 January.
'Congratulations'
Sivasspor go into the break level at the top of the table with champions Fenerbahçe SK and Uygun believes their success can carry on into the new year. "I congratulate all of my players one after another," he said following his side's 2-0 win over Gençlerbirliği SK on Sunday. "They have reached this position on merit. With limited opportunities and a small budget, they have managed to do a good job so far. I believe their run will continue in the second half of the season too."
Consistency
Sivasspor beat Gençlerbirliği despite playing 54 minutes with ten men following the first-half dismissal of midfielder Devran Ayhan. It was symbolic of the determination Uygun's side have shown this season. Although they lost against both Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray SK, they did win away to Beşiktaş JK and have otherwise shown a consistency the big three have struggled to match.
Injuries
Sivasspor's success is all the more remarkable given injuries to key players such as Australian international goalkeeper Michael Petkovic and midfielder Yasir Elmacı who have both been sidelined since late October, while Israeli international Pini Balili and defender Sedat Bayrak were injured during the 2-0 defeat by Galatasaray on 14 December.
First job
The 36-year-old Uygun made his name as a striker with Fenerbahçe and played a season with Sivasspor late in his career. Capped eleven times by his country, he is now in his first coaching job and is enjoying astonishing early success. The real test, though, will come in January. In recent years unfancied teams such as Vestel Manisaspor, Gaziantepspor and Kocaelispor have all enjoyed good starts before dropping away in the new year. A lot will depend on Sivasspor's ability to hold on to their top performers during the transfer window with striker Mehmet Yıldız and left-back Hayrettin Yerlikaya attracting plenty of interest.
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