I-LEAGUE Media Team

GOA: McDowell Mohun Bagan coach Sanjoy Sen has asked his team to forget the Hero Federation Cup debacle and instead focus on the task ahead against Salgaocar Football Club in the Hero I-League at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Wednesday.

Salgaocar decimated Mohun Bagan 4-1 in a Federation Cup group clash early this month but since then there has been some stability at the club, evident from their 3-1 victory over Mumbai FC in the opening encounter.

“That was really a bad performance. We must forget about that,” said the Mohun Bagan coach.

“We made some horrible mistakes in that game, could not capitalize as well. There is no point thinking what happened in that particular Federation Cup game against Salgaocar,” he said.

Mohun Bagan will take the field without Cameroonian striker Pierre Boya and Dhanachandra Singh, although Sen said he has enough in stock to make up for that deficit. Either Balwant Singh or Jeje Lalpekhlua is expected to step into Boya’s boots.

Salgaocar Football Club have injury concerns of their own but unlike their rivals, coach Derrick Pereira does not have enough replacements to make up for the injuries to Scottish striker Darryl Duffy and Dawson Fernandes.

“Unfortunately, there is no improvement in the fitness of our strikers and we will have to make do with the same squad. We have a tough task,” admitted Derrick.

Salgaocar were dominating in their last match against Royal Wahingdoh but still lost that game by a solitary goal. They created more than a dozen chances but the strikers were wasteful.

“Our approach to the game will remain the same but  we must convert the chances that we get. We also have made silly mistakes at the back and must avoid that,” said the Salgaocar coach.

Salgaocar have not really looked convincing in the two matches that they have played but Derrick said there is plenty of scope for improvement.

“If you keep working hard, the results will come. Right now we are not in the best of condition but things will improve quickly for us. We have to be patient,” said Derrick.

Match KO: Jan 28 @ 4:30 pm IST
TV Broadcaster: Ten Action
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