PUNE: Bharat FC will look to cash on their brilliant run in Pune Derby last weekend as they meet a shaky East Bengal in the Round 15 match of the Hero I-League football championship at the Balewadi Sports Complex here on Wednesday.

The mid-week action gives Bharat FC a chance to redeem itself after a string of draws. Their last win came against Sporting Clube de Goa on March 4 and it is high time that Stuart Watkiss and his boys score a win.

“East Bengal is a very important game for us. They are a very good side and will come hard at us. However, I think the lads have shown that they have the potential to raise their game for big matches,” Watkiss said of East Bengal match.

Watkiss sounded confident that his side would put up a determined display reminding that it were the Lions who were more aggressive than the Red Lizards in the Pune derby.

“We want more of the same on Wednesday,” he said.

Bharat FC has 11 points from 10 games and are on No 8 position in the I-League table. East Bengal on the other hand is at No 6 position with 13 points from 10 games, which gives Bharat FC a good chance to leapfrog the Kolkata giants if they win the match.

It may not be easy but doable no double. East Bengal is suffering form huge lack of confidence after having lost back-to-back games against table toppers Mohun Bagan and Royal Wahingdoh FC.

Bharat FC employed a 3-5-2 formation in the Pune derby and Watkiss said that he would stay with the same format against the Kolkatans.

“Our wide men did well against Pune FC. Our defense held its shape well and we fed our two strikers regularly. It was quite an encouraging display and the more we play this system, our sharpness will increase,” he said.

Mehrajuddin Wadoo will miss the clash against East Bengal after picking up two yellow cards. New Zealand international and top scorer for the team, Kris Bright, has recovered from the head injury he sustained in the match against Pune FC and is expected to be named in the match-day squad.

East Bengal will be without their first-choice goalkeeper Subhashish Roy Chowdhury due to a long term injury. That will put seasoned Abhijit Mondal under the bar.

“Bharat FC are a good side. They are very well organized defensively and threatening on the counter-attack. We need to guard against that. However, I believe that we have the ability and personnel to get us a positive result,” said East Bengal coach Eelco Schattorie.

He said a good open match and a positive result would do wonders to East Bengal’s morale.

Kick-off: 8th April @7PM (Ten Action)
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