Mumbai FC start as favourites to win against Lajong

Mumbai FC are eager to go full throttle against a struggling North Eastern team Shillong Lajong tomorrow in a quest to notch up their first win in more than a month in the I-League football after having their six-game unbeaten streak snapped by Salgaocar FC.
Placed seventh in the standings, Mumbai FC have been poor travellers but rock steady at home and it will need something special from Lajong - occupying a slot just above the relegation zone - to breach their fortress.
Mumbai FC coach Khalid Jamil said ahead of the game that "It's a do or die game for us. We have to win the game as we have not tasted victory for long."

Jamil's men won previously on February 27 when they outclassed League debutants Bharat FC 2-0 at the Cooperage ground here, but then drew their next two home games against Bengaluru FC and Pune FC before losing 1-3 to Salgaocar on March 28.
Both teams would miss key players due to suspensions or injuries, but the hosts seem to carry enough firepower to get past whatever Lajong, who drew 1-1 against bottom-placed Sporting Goa in their previous game, throw at them.
Mumbai FC could grab the sixth spot in the table if they win as they can then go past East Bengal, now in sixth spot.

With their sharp-shooter Josimar Martins - scorer of five goals in 9 games - already back after serving a one- match suspension along with midfielder Sampath Kuttimany, the hosts start favourites to get three full points from the game even without injured under 23 player Jayesh Rane.

They will also be without their influential Japanese medio Taisuke Matsugane who is injured, said Jamil.
Mohd Rafi is expected to again take the other striker's position though Milagres Gonsalves has impressed with his speedy runs while coming in as a second half substitute.
The Mumbai back four are a veritable wall on the artificial pitch and Jamil said first-choice Nidhin Lal is also back to man the goal after Kunaal Sawant did duty in the 1-3 defeat against Salgaocar.

"Lajong are a good team which was evident by the way they played against Sporting. We can't take them lightly and need to be hundred per cent," said Jamil.