I-League: Bengaluru look to get back to winning ways

Bangalore, Dec 20 (IANS/CMC) After losing their first home match of the season to Kingfisher East Bengal last Sunday, Bengaluru FC will be looking to get back to winning ways as they take on Salgaocar FC in the 16th Round of the Airtel I-league at the Bangalore Football Stadium here Saturday.

The hosts, who are leading the points table with 27 points from 14 matches, will be hoping to further consolidate their position by bagging full three points. On the other hand, Salgaocar, who have 18 points from 13 matches, will be aiming for an upset and a move up the points table.

Despite winning the away tie against Salgaocar in Goa last month, Bengaluru FC are not taking the visitors lightly.

“Every match is different. We don’t want to think about what has happened in the past and just concentrate on the game,” said Bengaluru FC coach, Ashley Westwood.

“As I have said even in the past that my aim is to win every game, so even against Salgaocar my team will be going all out for full three points.”

The English coach was also relieved that the team lost the last match as he feels that now there won’t be any added pressure.

“Though we lost the last match, there are some positives that we can take from that game. The most important being, that the players will now not have the pressure of continuing with their unbeaten run at home. Now they can take every game at a time,” said Westwood.

Bengaluru FC will be relieved as they will once again get back the services of their star defender John Johnson, who had missed the match against East Bengal after picking up four yellow cards.

On the other hand, Salgaocar FC coach Derrick Pereira is wary of Bengaluru FC’s record at home.

“Though they had lost their last match, but I know that they are a dangerous side. They have a strong defence and breaking the defence will be the key,” he said.

“The team is really looking forward to playing some attacking football and I am hopeful that we will put up a good fight,” added Pereira.