Seeking their first win after four straight losses, Dabang Mumbai are in a do-or-die situation when they take on formidable Ranchi Rays, the defending champions, in their third successive Hockey India League home game here tomorrow.
The hosts lost their first two away games and, to make matters worse, slumped to two defeats at home too to remain at the bottom of the six-team table with 4 points, earned only because they did not lose any match by more than two goals.
The side needs to win the tough game against high-flying Ranchi, who have won their last four matches on the trot after the loss to Jaypee Punjab Warriors in their lung-opener, to keep hopes of making the last four alive.
Team captain Graeme Swann of Australia conceded that the team was in a deep hole by letting in some soft goals and by not taking their chances, especially against Delhi Wave Riders and Kalinga Lancers at home.
"We probably need to be more sharp in the attacking circle. We need to take our chances and the other side is we have let in some very soft goals. We have to give the attacking circle a good crack and tighten up our defence," said the 27-year-old defender and member of the 2010 and 2014 World Cup-winning Australia squad.
"Yes, definitely it's a do or die game (for us)," he admitted.
The team is forcing many penalty corners but PC specialist Harmanpreet Singh has been below par.
"We have been unfortunate in the last two games in which we had the better of the games. We have two penalty corner specialists who are not firing at the moment, and hopefully things will change," he noted.
Rays' coach Harendra Singh said Mumbai were a good
side though they are on a losing streak.
"I respect Mumbai team, they have a formidable side playing good hockey. Teams taking them lightly will pay the price. HIL is such a fast game that one lapse and loss of focus and you have conceded goal.
"If they win next five matches they will be into semis. They are far better than what the results suggest.
About his own side, the former India coach said, "We have stuck to our plans and the result have followed. It's just the middle of tournament and no one can write off any team.
"We have a great leader in Ashley Jackson (England). They (foreigners) are playing the style of hockey which suits most of the Indian players. Barry Middleton (England) is an excellent example of Dhanraj Pillai (type player). There has been mixture of Indian hockey and that's why the Indian players in the team are comfortable."
Rays have also scored a lot of field goals which count as two as per the tournament rules. Their penalty corner expert Jackson, who has struck four times off set pieces, has also scored one goal from the field, as also Daniel Beale, Kothajit Singh and Timothy Deavin.
Harendra said this new experimental rule has made the contests more exciting to watch for the spectators.
"Because of the field goal rule, I can see a few teams playing very defensive hockey as they don't want to concede field goals. They will rather give away penalty corners," he said.
"It's also very fascinating to see forwards, getting the ball, trying to score field goal and not trying to earn penalty corners. That's why this HIL is very exciting and I think this (rule) should continue," he added.
