Kolkata: Winless after two matches including the derby debacle, Kolkata heavyweights East Bengal will aim to collect all three points when they face second placed Shillong Lajong at the Vidyasagar Krirangan in Barasat on Saturday.
With just a point from two matches, pressure has however already mounted on Khalid Jamil, to deliver. But the I-League winning coach is adamant of repeating the fairy-tale success he had with Aizwal last season.
“I do not want to think about what has happened. Soccer cannot be played down the confidence level. We are hopeful to leave the field with three points in the Lajong match. We have to fight. I saw the last moments of their match. They have a lot of hard working footballers. Our match will not be easy,” said the East Bengal gaffer.
His tactics and decision over playing a misfiring Willis Plaza have received huge criticisms, with fans demanding the Trinidad and Tobago star to leave, Jamil however defended his ‘blue-eyed boy’ citing everyone commits mistakes.
As for the striker himself who seems to have left his scoring boots at home, Plaza said, “I am as motivated as before but the only thing that is missing for me is the goals… Every striker wants to go home after scoring goals, I too want to score and would try my best (tomorrow).”
Syrian midfielder Mahmoud All Amna is nonetheless optimistic of things soon changing for his team. “Not winning in two games does not mean the end for us. One victory can change everything,” he said. “We played decently in the first match but drew it owing to silly mistakes and in the derby we lost due to defensive mistakes,” said the East Bengal midfield lynchpin.
The Red and Gold Brigade however can take heart from the fact that they are yet to lose a home match against their northeast counterparts. In the last eighteen meetings between the two teams, East Bengal have come out on top eight times while losing only six and drawing the other four. In the two legged matches last season they drew the home game 1-1, while clinching a 2-1 win away from home.
Things however stands different this season. While the ‘Reds’ are second placed and a win may well take them to the top position, East Bengal are languishing at sixth position with just a point from two matches. But Lajong Coach Bobby Nongbet sees their first away match as a different challenge altogether.
“We have played the last two matches at home, this is our first ever match, so we are worried, we want to see the opponent in the first fifteen minutes,” said the Lajong coach.
Renowned for the club’s youth development Shillong Lajong this season have also gone with many local youngstars from their academy as it has made the dividends with Alen Deory, Samuel Kynshi and Redeem Tlang all getting into the scoresheet. Ivorian Abdoulaye Koffi will however miss the fixture against East Bengal, Nongbet confirmed.
“Koffi is not well and so we will have to start with four foreigners. Hope it will be an exciting match,” added Nongbet.