Reigning I-League champions Bengaluru FC's coach Ashley Westwood said Thursday his side will have to be on their toes to win against Shillong Lajong in a Federation Cup football match.
Bengaluru defeated Salagaocar SC 3-2 in their first Group B encounter but scrapped to a 0-0 draw against Mohun Bagan Tuesday. Lajong lost both their matches, going down 1-3 against Pune FC and 1-2 against Salgaocar.
A win against Lajong at the Tilak Maidan here Friday will take Bengaluru a step closer to qualification for the semi-finals.
Westwood said he wasn't reading much into Lajong's poor form.
"We've been fortunate to watch Lajong the two times they have played in this cup. Although they didn't get the result they would have liked, they could have won both games," he said in a release Thursday.
"They are a dangerous side with youth and energy, the kind who keep pushing till the final minute. We will have to be at our best to get something out of the game," said Westwood on the eve of the game."
Bengaluru captain Sunil Chhetri, who scored a brace against Salgaocar, voiced optimism about the team's chances.
"We were dominant in our game against Salgaocar and showed a lot of character in our game against Bagan. We've been doing things correctly and the boys are keen to keep the momentum going," he said.
