East Bengal all keyed up for runners-up slot

Technical director PK Banerjee has made it very clear that they are not thinking of the League title now. He acknowledges that they are out of the race and is finding it difficult to motivate his players. Yet, a win is what the home team will be looking for in their penultimate game of the League. After all, losing against Mahindras at home may well become a matter of prestige.

Mahindras have never been in the running. In fact, they have won just one game and lost 13. They have conceded 26 goals and have scored only five. It is unlikely that East Bengalwill allow them to reverse this trend tomorrow.

There is little interest in the match and even the East Bengal players might look at it with little more than the customary academic value. Rather, had they been given a choice, they would have gladly watched cricket at Eden Garden.

Samuel Omolo, East Bengal’s Rock-of-Gibraltar, should be back after the injury induced lay-off. The defence was in a shambles in Omolo’s absence. Even in their last match against FC Kochin, they were lucky to get away without conceding more goals. The central defenders Naushad Moosa and Debashis Pal Choudhury just had no clue that day. In case Omolo has to sit out again, this defence might well be troubled by the placid Mahindras attack too. Tushar Rakshit should come good once again in the midfield.

With Bhaichung Bhutia ready to receive Rakshit’s brilliant passes up front, East Bengal might well be in a position to create good openings.

Mahindras will be staying back for their match against Mohun Bagan later this week,before they start thinking about next year’s second division League.