By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Shillong Lajong FC will be looking for a victory as they leave for Goa on Wednesday to play their first away match of the I-League this season against leaders Dempo FC on Saturday.
The home team will hope for a change of luck this time as they have never defeated the Goan side on their home turf.
Nevertheless, SLFC are carrying some momentum going forward into this clash, having beaten Prayag United in Shillong 3-2 last week.
“We are going to Goa to get the full three points,” SLFC’s Scottish coach Desmond Bulpin told reporters a day before leaving for Goa here on Tuesday,
Bulpin said that the team will not go there with excuses like other teams that came to play in Shillong and he added that they cannot win a match if they concentrate on their weaknesses rather on their strong points.
“I do not think that the weather is going to affect the players since they will be playing the match in the evening,” he said.
He also noted one particular positive – that the team have started to gel as a cohesive unit and he believes that they have the potential to get the better of any big club, even while playing away, so long as they stick to the game plan.
“Personally, I am happy to see that the team performance graph is going up with every game. The main factor is is that the players have now got the sense of belief to win every match,” Bulpin said before tempering any over-enthusiasm by admitting that the team cannot win all their matches.
He however said that it is important for the team to learn from the mistakes that they have made and take the necessary corrective measures.
Dempo top the points table with 10 points, having won three of their four matches. They have also only conceded three goals, while scoring 10.
Lajong are in sixth place, tied with Prayag on seven points, but behind on goal difference.
When asked about local lad Eugeneson Lyngdoh’s position in the team, he said that Lyngdoh is a very important player in the squad.
“The five minutes which he (Lyngdoh) had played against Prayag United was very critical for the team victory,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bulpin said that he is taking four young lads with the team to Goa.
He also appealed to Lajong’s fans to continue to back the team.