Mumbai, Feb 21 : A struggling Mahindra United, with just four wins from 15 ties, are hoping to put behind their goal-squandering ways and strike at the opportune time in their I-League match against promoted outfit Mohammedan Sporting here on Saturday. With just 17 points in their kitty, five of them through drawn encounters, Mahindra need to approach the 16th round match against the Kolkata rivals with their guns blazing and convert the half chances to notch up their fifth victory.
With just 17 points in their kitty, five of them through drawn encounters, Mahindra need to approach the 16th round match against the Kolkata rivals with their guns blazing and convert the half chances to notch up their fifth victory. Local side coach Derrick Pereira is confronted with the handicap of not having the services of both K Ajayan and N P Pradeep who will miss the encounter due to injuries.
Mahindra are placed seventh in the league table currently and coach Pereira is aware how important a victory is and for this to happen Mahindras strikers needs to deliver. He is hoping that the home ground advantage is utilised to the full.
It is a crucial game for us and we know that we have to win the game but it will not be easy as Mohammedan have been playing well recently. Playing in our home ground will help our players to get our acts together," he said on the eve of the match.
"Every match is important for us, we always plan and play to get the three points. We somehow have ended up drawing many matches, which we should have won," he rued.
The Mahindra coach is also mulling over changing the attacking strategy against the Mohammedan, who had beaten them in the first-leg encounter in Kolkata, after having drawn the previous two matches in the League.
"We are trying to play according to ground conditions, change our style of play especially in the attacking third against Mohammedan, who are a good fighting young side," Pereira said.
Mahindra had beaten Mohammedan comfortably (4-2) in the group stage of the Federation Cup in their previous face-off.
Striker Mohammad Rafi and goalkeeper Subhashish Chowdhury will be available after missing the last match due to injury, while Senegal's Lamine Tamba, who has served a one-match suspension, will once again figure in the defence for Mahindra.
Mohammedans, too, have not really got going in the League and currently are in the relegation zone, standing 11th out of 12 teams with 10 points in the kitty.