By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Shillong Lajong FC will have to put their best foot forward if they are to tame an in-form Mohun Bagan in the crucial I-League encounter at the JN Stadium here on Wednesday afternoon.
Aiming to end the season as high as third on the standings, every game here on is a must-win for the 4th-placed Reds. The situation is no different for visitors Mohun Bagan, who are serious title contenders at the moment thanks to their back-to-back wins against two formidable sides.
While Lajong come to the tie riding on a 3-2 away win over DSK Shivajians, Bagan just won the derby against arch rivals East Bengal (2-1). They had beaten Bengaluru in the previous encounter.
Second on the standings behind Aizawl FC with 29 points in their kitty, the Mariners can sniff another title glory and will treat every match as a virtual final.
Aware of the formidable challenge ahead, Lajong gaffer Thangboi Singto predicted a “tough encounter” on Wednesday. “Tomorrow’s game will be tough. Our home record is good and we need to keep that up. Having said that Mohun Bagan is on fire at the moment with their current performances and we need to play much better than we did against DSK,” Singto said in a pre-match conference here on Tuesday.
Singto added that though he was happy with the boys for resuming the I-League campaign with a win over DSK, it was a touch disappointing to squander a 2-0 lead in the last game which allowed the opponents to make a comeback.
Lajong, who are at 23 points from 14 games, have conceded 18 goals this season and scored 21. Their Kolkata opponents, meanwhile, have scored 23 goals and acceded only 9.
“Maintaining a clean sheet is crucial,” Singto reiterated. The gaffer also explained that Lajong defenders are relatively younger and are still learning.
On the other hand, a confident Bagan coach Sanjoy Sen asserted that his side was always in the hunt for the title and the recent performances have only made the campaign stronger.
He, however, showered praises on the Shillong opponents terming them as one of the tougher teams to beat.
“All the matches that we play from here on will be like virtual finals. Lajong have always shown character against us and tomorrow’s match will be one of the toughest this season. We will give it our best,” Sen said. The Bagan gaffer is also well aware of the rising youth brigade of the Reds and minced no words in stating that his side’s focus will not only be on star striker Dipanda Dicka but the whole bunch of Lajong’s U-22 boys who have it in them to decide the outcome of the tie.
All the three of Lajong’s goals against DSK were scored by U-22 players. Isaac Vanmalsawma, Samuela Lamuanpuia and Redeem Tlang were the scorers in Pune.
It can be safely said that history beckons both sides, one looking to win the title while the other aiming for its highest ever finish in the I-league. An exciting encounter is definitely on the cards at the JN Stadium where action begins at 4.30pm.
