I-League Media
SHILLONG: Shillong Lajong FC will aim to make it five home wins in a row when they take on DSK Shivajians in an eighth round Hero I-League match at the JLN Stadium on Saturday (February 11, 2017) afternoon.
On a roll, the hosts have not given anything away in the last four encounters and come to the game on the back of clean sheets against Chennai City and Churchill Brothers FC Goa which were preceded by 3-1 and 2-1 victories over Mumbai FC and Minerva Punjab respectively.
The young Lajong side has gelled well over the course of the home games and looks almost unstoppable on its turf at this juncture. However, this has not deterred their gaffer Thangboi Singto from putting in a word of caution ahead of Saturday’s encounter.
Replying to a query on whether Lajong are confident of making it 5 wins on the trot, Singto said, “Difficult to say! We want to continue winning but DSK have done quite well this season. They have some very talented Indian players in the form of Subrata Paul, Nirmal Chettri, Sanju Pradhan and others. They are one of the stronger sides this season and it’s not going to be easy.”
“We have to maintain the winning streak, we have done well so far, we have to do better,” he added in a pre-match conference here.
Singto went on to say that even winning five matches at home might not guarantee that his side would be out of the relegation zone. “Out of the 10 teams, 3 won’t be relegated so it’s a battle between 7 sides and hence will not be easy. Moreover, we are determined to better our last year’s record, so the motto is to keep playing well.”
Lajong coach asserted that the side’s bench was looking stronger now and the youngsters had done well to use the platform offered to them by Lajong.
Also present in the pre-match press meet was Lajong’s star striker Dipanda Dicka who will take the pitch against his former side tomorrow.
“I definitely want to do well for Lajong. I remember that I have scored 7 goals for DSK last season, want to better the record with my current team,” said the I-League current top scorer.
Meanwhile, DSK head coach Dave Rogers asserted that his boys are under no pressure coming to this away tie in Shillong.
DSK are yet to win a game away from their home but Rogers is unperturbed by the statistics.
The British coach said, “If you have seen any of our games, you will realise that we have been doing pretty well. Lajong’s four-match winning streak does not deter us, we are here to do what we have to do, go and win a football match.”
“Our preparation is same for all away teams, be it East Bengal, Mohun Bagan or Shillong Lajong,” he said adding that he had an all fit squad for Saturday.
Lajong, meanwhile, will miss out on the services of Zodingliana yet again.
The match is scheduled at 04:30 PM and it’ll be broadcast live on Ten 2.
