I-League: Bengaluru FC look to continue dominance as they take on Mohammedan Sporting

League leaders Bengaluru FC will hope to continue with their good form and register their first hat-trick of wins in the league when they take on the newcomer’s Mohammedan Sporting in the Airtel I-League at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Thursday. While the hosts have won their last two matches and are comfortably placed on the top of the table, the side from Bengal are yet to open their account in the league as they find themselves in the bottom.

“We are confident after our two back to back victories. We couldn’t have asked for a better start,” said the Bengaluru FC coach Ashley Westwood during the pre match press- conference here. “Although tomorrow is a new day, I’m confident that will be able to produce the same result and pocket full points,” he added.

The Englishman, who has enjoyed a bright start to the league knows that carrying on the good form into the later part of the season will be key for a successful future. “From now on consistency will be the key. We cannot take any team lightly and I can tell you that even tomorrow’s game won’t be an easy game. We will have to sweat it out for those three points.” said the 37-year-old.

Bengaluru FC is one the balanced teams in the league and the healthy competition between players have been the key for their early string of success. “There is lot of competition among the players for making it to the starting XI. All are in good form and fully fit and that’s reflected in our results so far,” he coach said.

The coach could field more or less a same team, which took the field against UnitedSC, for tomorrow’s game with few of the youngsters getting a nod. On the other hand, things couldn’t have gotten worse for Mohammedan Sporting with their star Australian striker Tolgay Ozbey being the latest casualty to be added to the injury list. Midfielder Penn Orji is also not 100 per cent fit though, but head coach Abdul Aziz will most likely field him against Bengaluru FC in tomorrow’s game.

“I am not sure whether Tolgay will be playing, and Penn is also not 100 per cent fit, but he will start tomorrow,” Aziz said during the press briefing.  “I know that we have not had a great start to the league. My main stay in the defence Luciano Sabrosa and that has affected us,” he lamented.

However, the coach remained optimistic on his team’s chances against the dangerous looking Bengaluru outfit.“I would like to congratulate Bengaluru FC for the great start, they are a physical team. But we can counter them by moving the ball around. If you essay quick passes you can cause problems and that stays my plan against Bengaluru FC,” Aziz confirmed.