Bharat FC will face a tough hurdle when they face Shillong Lajong here in an I-League match on Sunday even though the new entrants are coming into the encounter with two back-to-back wins.
Bharat have won their last two fixtures against Pune FC and league leaders Mohun Bagan, but lost the preceding two games to bottom outfit Sporting Clube de Goa and Bengaluru FC. As part of the deal that saw them gain direct entry into the I-League, Bharat FC have been exempt from any chance of relegation for three seasons, but coach Stuart Watkiss said that the team are just as eager as any other for wins.
Lajong, meanwhile, cannot afford to play it safe.
With three other big matches on Sunday, there could well be a fair amount of shuffling in the standings and the eighth-placed team needs to make every outing count. The Reds have played three consecutive home games, losing one, winning one and drawing the most recent one against defending champions and second-placed side Bengaluru FC.
Coach Thangboi Singto once again emphasised the need for consistency from his boys, but they will still have to perform without captain Aiborlang Khongjee. There was some positive news for SLFC with Robin Gurung, another key defender, returning to training this past week, though he is still not at his best fitness wise.
For the visitors, Tomba Singh is out, along with the likes of defender Mehrajuddin Wadoo, midfielders Lestor Fernandes and Adil Khan. However, New Zealander Kris Bright is getting fitter as the days go by and he will be in the squad, though how much he would play Watkiss could not say.
Lajong's sluggish way of beginning their recent matches is one thing Singto wants to correct and Bharat FC may just aim to take advantage of that slowness. The Reds' coach was more impressed with the way his charges came back in the second half against Bengaluru FC and he will look to Cornell Glen and Uilliams Souza Silva to provide the goals for the team.
The two teams have met once before, drawing 1-1 in Pune on April 19. Bharat FC have also already played once before in Shillong, drawing 1-1 against Royal Wahingdoh FC the month before.
All in all, the visitors have little to lose, while Lajong have everything to play for. That should provide some good entertainment for the fans.
