Shillong: Thangboi Singto’s men have a tough task at hand as Shillong Lajong FC take on a confident Ashley Westwood’s Bengaluru FC in an away I-League match at the Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday.
Lajong are coming into the game after a two-week break. In the previous fixture, the team had suffered a 1-2 defeat to East Bengal in Kolkata on February 1.
What is encouraging for the team is the fact that the Reds have been up to the mark up front in comparison to their shaky defence. They have managed to score goals in all their four matches so far irrespective of the result.
Lajong are yet to field the fourth foreign player this season but will welcome back defender Jibon Singh into the squad who recently signed with the Reds. He will add experience to the defence along with Aiborlang and Robin at the back. Penn Orji, Uilliams and Cornell Glen will most likely start for the Reds on Saturday with Boithang Haokip also expected to be fit for the encounter.
Shillong Lajong Head Coach Thangboi Singto was wary that playing against the defending champions will be tough for any team in the I-league as Bengaluru are a very strong side with a good squad.
According to Singto, the Reds have become much fitter and well organised as the break really helped them to work in areas where they needed maximum improvement.
“All players need to do their job well on the field in order to get positive results. We are yet to win an away match. It is important that the boys come out and play good football and register their first away win,” he said.
Bengaluru would be looking to sustain the momentum that last Sunday’s win provided as they host Lajong, which has been struggling to make a mark in the first half of this season.
A spectacular goal by new signing Eugeneson Lyngdoh, who is fast emerging as Bengaluru’s spearhead, helped the team post a 1-0 win over visiting Kalyani Bharat FC, and having beaten Lajong twice – both at home – in three previous meetings, Bengaluru have an excellent opportunity to post another success that will put them in the mix of league leaders.
Currently, the defending champions are on seven points after five games while the Reds have just three points from four outings, one of which they lost 2-5 to hosts Pune FC who scored all their goals in the first-half.
The last time the two teams met, Bengaluru FC won 1-0 in a Federation Cup league game with Robin Singh scoring the winner in the 50th minute.
The hosts will, however, be wary of the 0-3 drubbing that Lajong handed out to them last year in Shillong when the visitors were down to nine men after red cards to goalkeeper Pawan Kumar and central defender Curtis Osano.
All in all it is a must-wim situation for both teams. Three points from a win would take Bengaluru closer to the top while Lajong, whose only victory thus far has been against Mumbai FC, need a dose of success to revive their campaign this season.
Lajong supporters back home would be able to witness the clash live courtesy Ten Action from 7pm.
