Indian Arrows will aim to ensure an elusive win when they take on Churchill Brothers in an I-League encounter at the Tilak Maidan Stadium here on Saturday.
The Arrows are second from bottom in the 10-team league ladder with 11 points from 14 matches. Despite good speed and promising skills, the youngsters have been outmuscled and outrun by the other teams. Their finishing has also not been the best on several occasions.
As a result, they have managed to win just three games this season and lost nine times.
Churchill, meanwhile, are seventh with 16 points from 12 matches.
The last time Indian Arrows met Churchill Brothers, they left heir opponents panting and puffing. But their inexperience cost them dearly as the young colts shipped in two late goals as Churchill Brothers ran out 2-0 winners.
Moreover, the Arrows' weakness of conceding late goals was further exposed in the game against East Bengal.
"Tomorrow we want to give a good answer and try to fight for a result because we always fight for a result. I think we deserve more points. I think we could have had 14 points. Results, as I say always, at the end you always remember the result and not how well you played", Indian Arrows coach Luis Norton de Matos said.
Churchill have been in good form lately. The former I-League champions have won five of their last six matches which has helped them shoot to the seventh spot on the table.
"After the Churchill Brothers team that changed in January, they are a completely different team and very strong. This team is an impressive team of players," Matos said.
The Arrows, on the other hand, are slipping down the standings and one reason could be down to their inability to see out results and the number of points dropped due to that.
"It is the exact opposite sensation of scoring in the last minute. As a coach I am frustrated but it makes us learn a new lesson," Matos reflected.
Meanwhile, Churchill Brothers are not exhibiting any weakness in their game at the moment and are targeting a top-four finish. But their coach Alfred Fernandes feels there is a need for improvement.
"Only area where we can stress upon is our conversion rate. We have been missing a lot of chances in front of goal", Fernandes said.
"A realistic target is top four. If we win all our remaining matches, top four is a realistic target especially with top teams dropping points," he added.
--IANS
ajb/bg
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