Negeri Sembilan FC (NSFC) have rightfully earned recognition as one of the surprise packages of this season’s Super League, following impressive home victories over Selangor FC and Sabah FC — as well as scoring three goals in their opening away match against Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).
This marks a remarkable improvement from last season, when the Jangs collected only 16 points from 24 matches, finishing 13th in the table.
Much of the credit for this turnaround belongs to head coach Nidzam Jamil, whose tactical acumen and player adjustments have clearly revitalized the squad.
However, the story has been less encouraging on the road, where Negeri Sembilan have managed to secure just one point from three away matches so far this season.
That statistic is concerning — especially since two of those fixtures were against teams outside the top 10, namely Imigresen FC and Penang FC. To make matters worse, the 2–1 defeat to Penang handed the northern side their first Super League win of the season.
A similar struggle was seen in the FA Cup second-leg tie against PDRM FC at Stadium Selayang, which ended in a 1–0 defeat. Fortunately, Negeri Sembilan advanced comfortably on a 5–1 aggregate from the first leg.
The club’s away form has become a talking point among supporters, with some beginning to question the team’s tactical approach when playing outside Paroi.
This challenge is not entirely new for Coach Nidzam. During his tenure at Selangor FC, he turned Stadium MBPJ into a fortress but found consistent results harder to achieve away from home.
Over roughly six months with the Klang Valley club, Nidzam oversaw 13 Super League matches, with seven played at home. Selangor won six of those, losing only their final home game to JDT — a result that led to his immediate departure.
Away from home, his Selangor side recorded three wins, two draws, and one defeat — while also suffering back-to-back away losses in the FA Cup against Kuching City FC and Terengganu FC, before recovering on home turf.
Now at Negeri Sembilan, a familiar pattern appears to be repeating itself. Despite a strong start at home, the team continues to struggle in away environments — a problem that may stem from several underlying factors.
One possibility lies in pitch conditions, which can influence performance and playing rhythm. At Selangor, Nidzam’s team benefited from one of the best surfaces in the country at Stadium MBPJ. By contrast, the pitch at Stadium Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Paroi is not currently in ideal condition, meaning this factor alone cannot explain the issue.
Another contributing factor could be difficulty adapting to unfamiliar surroundings, which Nidzam himself acknowledged as a key reason behind the defeat to Penang FC — sparking renewed discussion over the team’s away form.
If Negeri Sembilan FC wish to establish themselves as a true Super League contender in the coming seasons, resolving their away-game challenges will be essential. The foundation is strong, the home form is formidable — but to take the next step, consistency on the road must now become the focus.