Philippe Aw admits he had a feeling of deja vu when he coached Hougang United against Home United in the S.League on Sunday night, as his reunion with his old club ended in a 2-0 S.League defeat.
Aw spent 14 years at Home as a player and a coach, taking over Hougang before the start of the 2017 season.
Hougang had the better of the first half before second-half goals from Irfan Fandi and former Hougang striker Stipe Plazibat left Aw empty-handed at Hougang Stadium.
"When I started at Home in 2015, that's what was happening -- dominating the game but not putting chances away. So it's like a deja vu thing that now it's happening to me at Hougang," Aw told ESPN FC.
"You can see the first half was totally ours; [Hougang goalkeeper Khairulhin Khalid] had nothing to do. All it took was a corner that we didn't defend, and they scored. When you dominate the game, you got to make sure you finish the chances."
The defeat was Hougang's third in five matches this season, leaving them in fifth position. Unbeaten Home, meanwhile, are top of the table, above champions Albirex Niigata (S) on goal difference.
"Of course, I would have loved to beat the team that I was associated with for a long time, but when I look at Home now, there's so many players that I've coached before," Aw said.
"I would like to think that I laid the foundations for them. Same for Hougang, I want to lay a good foundation here."
Home United coach Aidil Sharin said his team showed character to get the three points, despitc a hectic schedule that saw them back up after Wednesday night's energy-sapping AFC Cup victory over Than Quang Ninh at My Dinh National Stadium.
He reserved special praise for former striker Irfan Fandi who scored Home's opening goal, despite playing in defence.
"A lot of people ask me why Irfan is playing centre-back, but he is now showing that he could be the next Baihakki [Khaizan] and Aide [Iskandar]. He deserves to be here, and it's good for the national team to have a player like him."
Both Home United and Hougang United are next in action on Friday. Home host Balestier Khalsa while Hougang will face Albirex at Jalan Besar Stadium.