Visitors aim to reclaim top spot
SHILLONG: Royal Wahingdoh FC would look to regain the top spot once again when they take on a beleaguered Dempo SC in a Hero I-League match at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa on Wednesday.
On a high after beating the mighty McDowell Mohun Bagan, the Royals would be eager to play it right against the ninth-placed Goan side. While the Royals haven’t lost a tie in the last seven encounters, Dempo come to the game on the back of a defeat to Pune FC.
A victory at Fatorda will take the visitors to 29 points from 16 games and also ensure that they are on the top of the standings at least till the time Bagan play their next encounter.
The Shillong side has had seven wins of the 15 games played so far and have scored 20 times, second only to Bagan’s 24 goals.
Dempo on the other hand have had an indifferent season so far with only two wins from their 13 matches. Furthermore, having scored just ten goals so far in 13 games, Dempo are the second lowest goal scorers after Bharat FC, and have also failed to find the back of the net in six games. To add to it, the Goan side has registered only one win at home so far.
Though the statistics hint towards a RWFC win on Wednesday, coach Santosh Kashyap is wary of the surprises an I-League fixture can throw up and would certainly put his boys on alert ahead of the crucial game, negating any chances of a drop in concentration levels.
The Royals had beaten Dempo in the reverse fixture but Kashyap feels that past results don’t count for much at this level.
On the eve of the tie, Kashyap said the team is well prepared and the confidence of the boys is very high especially after the victory against Bagan.
“With due respect to the opponents, we will go for full three points tomorrow,” Kashyap said adding that every game is crucial from here on considering his side’s title ambitions.
That the Royals will move to the top of the table once again in case of a victory on Wednesday will also act as a motivation to the boys, Kashyap felt.
Counter attack has been a major success mantra for Kashyap’s side and with the likes of Jackichand Singh, Seityasen Singh, Bekay Bawar in their ranks, the visitors will once again look to play an attacking game. However, star striker Kim Song Yong is a doubtful starter on Wednesday and a final call on him will be taken before the match.
Dempo, meanwhile, are on the verge of being dragged into the relegation dogfight and would look to do all they can to avoid such a scenario.