Goa: Following their 2-1 win over Odisha FC in the last game, Chennaiyin FC will look to push forward for a top four spot when they face SC East Bengal in match 63 of the Indian Super League at the GMC Stadium in Goa on Monday(January 18).
Despite the absence of their talismanic attacking midfielder Rafael Crivellaro, Chennaiyin had to grind a lot for positive outcomes. However, they took four-points from the last two games with coach Csaba Laszlo being optimistic about his side’s ability to turn things around.
“We must aim to keep a clean sheet and take our chances. In the midfield and defence, we must pay utmost attention, and improve our movement off the ball. Overall, I am happy with the team and I am sure we will take confidence from our win in the previous game. We prepare to face SC East Bengal as a unit,” stated Laszlo in the pre-match conference.
Forward Isma Goncalves will be a key player in this match who scored a brace in the game against Odisha with hopes repeat that as well in Monday’s clash. Enes Sipovic and Eli Sabia at the back, will have to deal with the pace and physicality of the East Bengal forward line who have been excellent in the new year.
On the other hand, with hopes to find inspiration, East Bengal will come out all-blazing in the reverse fixture against the Marina Machans with the first one being thrilling 2-2 draw back in late December.
Since then, they have improved as a unit a lot especially after the first game of the new year against Odisha where the forwards were brilliant. Bright Enobakhare and Jacques Maghoma has propelled the side exquisitely.
Anthony Pilkington, despite being a striker has offered much more than just being there to score which proved to be pivotal in the last few matches.
A late winner against Kerala Blasters in the last match handed them a point but the defensive concerns are still not over for the Kolkata giants leaking goals in the early parts of the game.
However head coach Robbie Fowler feels that his side can continue this stint to the end,
“As regards the fixture congestion, I think we’ve been unfortunate. We’ve played a lot more games in succession as compared to other teams. Having said that, we are a momentum team. We will try to embrace the situation and play to win points in every match.” added Fowler in the pre-match briefing.
Chennaiyin FC possible playing XI: Vishal Kaith (GK), Reagan Singh, Eli Sabiá, Enes Sipović Sipovic, Jerry, Anirudh Thapa, Memo, Rahim Ali, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev, Isma.
SC East Bengal possible playing XI: Debjit Majumder (GK), Scott Neville, Rana Gharami, Danny Fox, Ankit Mukherjee, Milan Singh, Matti Steinmann, Das, Bright Enobakhare, Jacques Maghoma, Harmanpreeth Singh.
