Things tend to get harder before they get better. With this motivating axiom in mind Mohammedan Sporting Club will continue their search for the spark that will ignite their 2017/18 Second Division League campaign.
The Black Panthers will face Langsning FC in their second away Preliminary Round Group C fixture at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, yet another difficult assignment after they played goalless with the same opponent in the corresponding fixture at Kolkata four days ago.
In reality, Mohammedan Sporting were not clinical enough against Langsning FC. There was no intensity in their play, they kept playing long balls, losing possession cheaply and ran out of ideas when they played in the final third of the pitch.
Despite his disappointment with the draw, Mohammedan Sporting head coach Biswajit Bhattacharya is optimistic that his side will get their rhythm back that saw them winning first two matches against Jamshedpur FC Reserves and Chennaiyin FC Reserves with ease.
“The game of football is unpredictable. You can have one or two players having an off day and get away with it, but when you have five or six it’s a big problem. We have to find a way to recover the team. This is a match where we need to show character,” coach Bhattacharya said.
Coach Bhattacharya has also lamented the goalscoring problem but remains confident of an improvement ahead of tomorrow’s match.
“We have had challenges at the final third, but I am confident that we can turn things around starting from tomorrow against Langsning. We have to work harder on the things we work on. A win will certainly help us build momentum,” the gaffer added.
The Black Panthers is placed fourth on the Second Division League table, not being where they want to be, with seven points from four matches while Langsning FC in second with eight points from five matches behind leaders TRAU FC who took their tally to 10 points from four matches beating Chennaiyin FC Reserves 2-1 in their own backyard this afternoon.