I-LEAGUE Media Team

SHILLONG: After almost five weeks since their last home game, Shillong Lajong FC will welcome Kolkata giants McDowell Mohun Bagan to the JN Stadium here for an eighth round Hero I-League match on Friday.

Both sides will come into the fixture in a positive frame of mind having won their most recent matches, but the home team will feel a little more of the pressure playing in front of their adoring, but sometimes critical, fans.

Lajong have had to play their last four matches away, losing three, but recorded a welcome 2-0 victory over Dempo on Saturday. That was only their second win of the season so far and they now have six points and are in ninth place.

Bagan, meanwhile, have had a strong campaign up to this point, with three victories and two draws giving them 11 points, which put the Mariners, who have two games in hand, just behind Royal Wahingdoh FC and Pune FC. A victory would move Mohun Bagan to the top of the table.

When the two clubs last met in Shillong they played out a 1-1 draw in November 2013.

Although shorn of some of their big name players, like Odafa Okolie, Mohun Bagan have responded well to new coach Sanjoy Sen, who was beaming after his side’s 4-1 hammering of defending champions Bengaluru FC in their last fixture in Kolkata.

“The belief in my players finally paid off. A coach’s job depends on the players,” Sen was quoted as saying after the win. “Now we have to be consistent and continue to perform in this way. We have 11 points now and we have a long way to go. We have two very important away matches coming up against Shillong Lajong and Dempo,” he added.

Lajong coach Thangboi Singto breathed a sigh of relief after his boys overcame a three-match losing streak to take down Dempo. Goals from Boithang Haokip and Cornell Glen in combination with a stronger looking defence will give the team some confidence, although Mohun Bagan look to be a stiffer challenge.

Minchol Son’s return to SLFC’s ranks arguably played a large role in the improved performance of Lajong’s back line and Singto will once again rely on his proven abilities in the game against Bagan.

Match KO: Feb 27 @ 4:30 PM IST (Ten Action)
 

Hashtag: #SLFCvMMB