SHILLONG: After a hard-fought and emotional first home victory of the season, Shillong Lajong FC will take on Mohun Bagan at the JN Stadium, Polo, on Wednesday at 5:30pm.
Thangboi Singto’s side will look to continue their good run after beating Mohammedan Sporting 2-1 on Saturday, their first win at home in six matches this season.
Shillong Lajong managed to pull off a brilliant display beating Mohammedan, banking on Uilliams Souza Silva’s brace.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Singto said that Wednesday’s fixture will be a different game.
“It was a great win, three points for us, but the chapter is closed.
“Tomorrow will be difficult against Mohun Bagan and we will try to get a good result,” he said.
The Mohun Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa was also all praise for his defender and Shillong lad Aiborlang Khongjee, who received a call-up to the national side on Monday.
Bencherifa added, “I’ve worked with Aibor for almost a year and he is very educated, strong and I’m happy to see him in the national team.”
The Kolkata giants had a poor start to their campaign but are finding their form having registered two wins and a draw in the past three games.
Speaking on their poor start the Moroccan coach said, “Mohun Bagan is a new team with new players and combination takes time.
“The schedule was also not easy but we are settling down with seven points out of nine in three games.”
The home side are still in doubt as to the availability of key players, such as Japanese midfielder Taisuke Matsugae and Trinidad and Tobago striker Cornell Glen.
Bagan also have their fare share of injury setbacks including all time lead scorer Odafa Okolie, who has been out since the start of the season.
Shillong Lajong will look for a repeat of the same result from last season when the hosts won 2-0 with goals from Boithang Haokip and Lalramluaha Hmar.
Also present at the pre-match press conference was Lajong midfielder Ongnam Milan Singh who said that he is “expecting a good crowd tomorrow”.
The Reds are currently sixth in the standings with 12 points from eight games while Mohun Bagan are seventh with nine points and with a game in hand over the Shillong club.