East Bengal FC are, mathematically, still in the hunt for a playoffs
spot this season and will be looking to establish parity with Chennaiyin FC on
the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) table as they host NorthEast United FC to
the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium on Wednesday. Three points for
the Torch Bearers will bring them level on points with the Marina Machans
before facing them this Sunday. The Highlanders, meanwhile, are still searching
for their first points away from home this season.
While East Bengal FC are, theoretically, still in the race, head
coach Stephen Constantine has indicated in recent weeks that the rest of the
season will be part of a larger project to vastly improve ahead of the next
one.
This past Friday, they made a big step in that direction when they
shocked Kerala Blasters 1-0 to earn their fifth win of the season. The club’s
mainstay Cleiton Silva scored his tenth goal of the season and is part of a
heated race for the golden boot.
Constantine will be without Mobashir
Rahman in this game after the midfielder was sent off in the closing stages of
the last game but will be pleased to continue with new signing Jake Jervis
alongside Silva up front. “I don’t judge
teams on paper; I judge them on the field. They have improved in recent weeks
and brought in a few new players,” said Constantine. “I don’t judge a team by
where they are in the table. All games in ISL are difficult games. We have to
be completely focused and implement last week’s formula. If we do that we will
get the three points,” he added.
NorthEast United FC are rooted to the bottom of the table and find
themselves eight points behind Jamshedpur FC. A loss against East Bengal FC
will drive the final nail to the coffin and confirm an eleventh-place finish
this season. This past weekend, the Highlanders
failed to find the back of the net for a third consecutive game in the Hero
ISL. In addition to that, Vincenzo Annese’s men have conceded eight goals in
those three games.
(Courtesy: ISL Media)
