I-League Preview: Shillong Lajong face Minerva; Mohun Bagan target 4th win on trot

Shillong/Chennai/Pune: The first day of week four of Hero I-League will witness three matches with Shillong Lajong hosting debutants Minerva Punjab even as heavyweights Mohun Bagan targets fourth succcessive win tomorrow. In Saturday's another match DSK Shivajians will host Churchill Brothers.

Shillong Lajong vs Minerva Punjab 

It will be a litmus test for Lajong's Thangboi Singto and his men when they take on debutants Minerva Punjab at the JN Stadium tomorrow.

Caught on the backfoot after losing three matches in a row, Lajong have no choice but to turn this over in their favour to avoid dropping to a point of no return. It is the first home game of the season for the Reds and it's high time they live up the home crowd's expectations.

While Lajong languish at the bottom of the table after three games, debutants Minerva Punjab FC, despite an indifferent show, are two positions higher at 8th, thanks to their goalless draw against fellow debutants Chennai City in the opening encounter.

However, a 0-4 drubbing at the hands of Mohun Bagan in the last encounter makes them a vulnerable unit especially against Lajong who are nothing but a side to beat at their home.

In a pre-match conference today, Lajong coach Singto admitted that away matches have been a concern for his young side which will have its task cut out against the visitors.

"It's a new season, a lot of changes in the side, new foreigners and youngsters. It will be a tough match tomorrow as Minerva are no pushovers and we will have to bring the best out of ourselves to make the home opportunity count," the Lajong gaffer said.

Singto minced no words in stating that the inexperience in the defence line did not help his side's cause and the loopholes have to be sealed at the earliest.

Despite being fully supportive of Lajong's focus on giving youths an opportunity in the I-League, Singto admitted that an additional number of experienced heads on the pitch would have come in handy for his side.

However, at the same breath, he reiterated that it was keeping this factor in mind that the side had roped in experienced foreigners in the form of Romanian Dan Ignet, Japanese Yuta Kinowaki and Cameroonian Aser Dipanda.

"Moreover, the youth should grab this golden opportunity with both hands. A 20-year-old should be ready for the big games," he added.

Singto said he was also looking forward to a more coordinated effort from his forward line in the matches to come. Lajong have only scored once in the last three matches while they have conceded seven.

Meanwhile, Minerva head coach Surinder Singh asserted that despite going down 0-4 to Bagan in the last game his side are up for the Shillong challenge.

"The scoreline tells only half the story. Our boys did well in the second half (against Bagan) and created several chances. The performance gives me confidence that we will fare well here."

Surinder also backed the idea of promoting youngsters in the side.

Romanian defender Dan Ignet will be a doubtful starter for Lajong while Minerva have an all-fit squad.

Mohun Bagan vs Chennai City 

Mohun Bagan sail into the southern metropolis looking for their fourth consecutive win, as Chennai City gear up to host the heavyweight.

Mohun Bagan will want to set the pace from the offset against a Chennai City side which is coming off two successive away defeats. The home side are yet to score a goal in the 3 games they have played so far and badly need to address this issue if they have any hopes of challenging the 2014-15 champions.

Chennai City head coach Robin Charles Raja acknowledged the lack of goals and asserted that they are looking to rectify it.

He said, "We are into our third match only. We are getting better with every match going by. The strikers arrived just three days before the first game. We have other options also but we should score a goal tomorrow."

"Coordination between midfield and attack is a problem. I've been working with them. There is a bit of language problem but they are improving. We are putting more focus on midfielders and strikers," he added.

Mohun Bagan head coach Sanjoy Sen, meanwhile, called for focus from his team, asserting that they will be given a tough time by the newcomers. He stated, "If we're going to win, every match is important. We are not thinking about the last 3 matches. It is not going to be easy. We have to fight for every ball and we're expecting nothing but a tight match tomorrow."

There are not any injury concern for the Mariners and a strong starting XI from them are expected to hit the pitch tomorrow while Chennai City are mulling several changes in order to rectify their problems in attack.

Importantly, they will welcome back Karanjit Singh in goal while Haroon Amiri's participation for the home side is still doubtful.

Though the visitors come on the back of a four-goal win against Minerva Punjab, Sanjoy Sen is not relaxing yet. He feels there are areas which could be further improved and claimed, "Every session we have to learn. There's a lot of space to improve. Though we scored 4 goals in the last game, we've done things wrong and we will try and correct them."

Chennai City are a mix of experienced Indian players and newcomers who are getting the first taste of I-League football and Robin Charles Raja feels his squad is improving well. He insisted, "My team has very experienced players and some local players. They are getting better and learning from their experiences."

"Mohun Bagan have 9 points already but on the field, tomorrow, it's going to be 11 vs 11. So we have to think like that," he further added.

DSK Shivajians vs Churchill Brothers

Their morale boosted after their first win this season in their last match, DSK Shivajians host Churchill Brothers in a fourth round I-League fixture at the Balewadi Stadium, Pune.

Shivajians lost their first two matches -- against Mumbai FC and East Bengal -- before recording a win against debutant Chennai City FC on January 17.

Churchill, on the other hand, have lost all of their three matches so far, with the last two defeats coming at home.

Both managers, David Rogers of Shivajians and Alfred Fernandes of Churchill, are looking for a positive result in tomorrow's match.

"It is great to see Churchill back in the I-League. They are a good addition to the league. They have got good players. They have a good manager," Rogers said.

"In this league, anyone is capable of beating anybody on the day. If you do not prepare the right way and underestimate opponents, then you can face problems," he added.

Churchill coach Fernandes said, "We come into this match with a mission; to get points. In the first three matches, we played to our potential, displaying good performances, but the results did not go our way.

"Against big clubs such as Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, you cannot make silly mistakes - which cost us valuable points. The team missed on a couple of chances, in the opening match against Mohun Bagan.

"In the second match, at home to Mumbai, we scored the first goal. But we could not hold on to it, as we conceded a goal in the final minute. In the last match, we lost to East Bengal, despite playing a good match, tactically," Fernandes lamented.

"We are playing good football. Hopefully, tomorrow's match can be a turning point for us to put points on the board."