Pune FC look to break Mohun Bagan jinx

The other is the realistic aspect of playing for the second spot in order to finish with the highest-ever achievement. Pune FC’s rival for this club-high is second placed East Bengal,who play their round after Pune FC gets the first shot at setting the pace.

Pune FC Coach Derrick Pereira said,“Though we had two good matches successively,Bagan are tougher opposition. It’s now that we need to step up mentally as well as physically. We need to be better in order to continue our form.”

Apart from league positions,Pune FC look to exact revenge on two counts — last season’s (2011-12) away game loss dashed third position hopes and the IFA Shield (0-3) loss earlier this year. With the game on Wednesday of vital importance,Pune FC hope to extract confidence from the fact they have been the best travellers this season picking up the most wins (9) and points (27) than any other team.

Pereira added: “After our loss to Churchill Brothers,I felt and prepared myself to set a target of winning all remaining games. However,Bagan’s loss to Churchill Brothers made it tougher. now we look for a win to be realistic of achieving the best position.”

Bagan themselves have their own targets and are certain to be tough opponents. Set with a mission of driving up the table to the maximum,Bagan,until the last round loss (vs Churchill Brothers) had an impressive run. From bottom-most (owing to AIFF sanctions following the Kolkata Derby fiasco) to beyond the relegation zone in a span of 12 games is evidence enough of their quality.

Eight of those I-League games were at Kalyani,where Bagan have picked up five wins and two draws and scored 18 times.

Pune FC welcomes back Nigerian defender Chika Wali (suspended in last match),while winger Karma Tsewang is back to full fitness and has travelled as part of the 19-member playing squad to Kalyani.

The changes in squad of the last match are Abhra Mondal (for Shahinlal Meloly),Srikant Ramu (for Caitano Costa),Tsewang (Subash Singh) and Sukhwinder Singh (Nikhil Kadam).

Bagan,likewise,has a full squad to chose from. Nigerian defender Eche is back from the one-match suspension,which probably will force Namibian Quinton to drop to the bench. But with the likes of Jewel Raja and Snehasis Chakraborty,Bagan have enough options to supplement their three-man midfield marshalled by Denson Devdas and Manish Maithani,who look to supply Odafa,Ozbey and their third attacker up-front.

The clash between the two sides is the tenth time ever and the eighth in I-League. The head to head,however,tilts Bagan’s way. So far,Pune FC has won one match (in Pune) and Bagan four.

Interestingly,Pune FC will also be out to seek their first win over Bagan in Kolkata,having visited the city five times before.

With the encounter having enough for both teams to achieve,Pune FC will be eager to sign off their final away-trip with the reputation they have earned this season. Moreover,full points shall also set a few records straight for Pune FC.