Uphill for Salgaocar versus East Bengal

Beleagured Salgaocar and East Bengal are looking to shrug off their recent...

Beleagured Salgaocar and East Bengal are looking to shrug off their recent poor performances when they meet in the 10th round of the I-League at Nehru Stadium, Margao, tomorrow.

Salgaocar, who lost to East Bengal earlier in the campaign, have not won a single match so far collecting four points from nine matches. East Bengal have seven. The hosts would be hopeful that the returning Boniface Ambani can do the trick against the Kolkata team.

Salgaocar’s main concern is finishing, which let them down against Mohun Bagan and JCT. The defence is another worry as it tends to cave when under pressure.

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“Tomorrow’s match is tough and we need to raise our level and cash on the chances that come our way,” said Salgaocar coach Savio Medeira.

“Like us, East Bengal’s morale is also down and we need to take advantage and score an early goal to put pressure on them,” Medeira said.

East Bengal coach Subrata Bhattacharya is worried about his team’s poor show, especially in their last match against Sporting Clube-de-Goa.

With Ashim Biswas down with injury, East Bengal were facing another blow. “The morale of the team is down after a series of losses and I don’t know how to start afresh,” Bhattacharya said.