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Out of a possible six, title contenders Mohun Bagan collected two points from their travels in the last two engagements. So coach Sanjoy Sen, on Friday, said their home tie against DSK Shivajians at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium is a must-win encounter.
“This one is our turnaround game,” Sen told reporters after his team drew goalless at both Siliguri in the high-voltage derby against East Bengal and away to a lowly Mumbai FC side.
In the first meeting between the two sides, DSK Shivajians held Bagan to a goalless stalemate in Pune.
“See in our two (away) matches, our target was six points or at least four points. But what transpired is we got just two points. Thus, this is a very important game for us. We have to get back to winning ways,” the former I-League winning gaffer added.
Mohun Bagan have been flawless at home, winning all of their four matches so far. Sen stressed on the fact that their backline has been the least porous of all the teams and that is a good sign.
Mohun Bagan’s defence drew a lot of flak after their AFC Cup preliminary stage game against Colombo FC at their home on February 7, 2017.
“We will try and maintain the all-win home record. Bagan have also conceded the least number of goals in the league. That holds our defenders in good stead. We will definitely try to score goals and win the match.”
Sony Norde is doubtful for Saturday as he is still recuperating from a lingering knee problem, while Mohun Bagan striker Darryl Duffy, who has found the back of the net six times till now, said that the team has won without Norde and there is not much of a difference.
“We win as a team,” the Scotsman said.
“We played against Churchill (Brothers) without Sony. I don’t feel there is extra pressure when Sony does not play.”
Duffy added that DSK Shivajians were able to hold them in the first leg as they played defensive with five at the back and two holding midfielders. “It would be difficult for any team to break that,” the former Salgaocar marksman said.
Coming to the visitors, the Dave Rogers-coached side have had a recent spate of good results with a draw against defending champions Bengaluru FC and win over Shillong Lajong FC on the road, but they were held by newbies Minerva Punjab FC in their last game.
DSK Shivajians are sixth in the table with ten points from nine outings whereas Mohun Bagan are placed second, having garnered eight points more having played one match less.
by I-League Media
