Underdogs JCT can spring a surprise

Coach Sukhwinder Singh knows that his team are still underdogs, “We depend on playing a team game. Without big stars or a vast experience, that is the only strategy that we can use,” Sukhwinder said.

And as a team, playing with full awareness of their strengths and weaknesses, JCT impressed against Mohun Bagan. True, they had to make do with little possession in the match, but the defendingchampions were often caught off guard by the suddenness and speed of the counter. Without doubt, East Bengal will be wary of JCT’s danger men Surjit Singh and Hardeep Sangha in front, along with Hardeep Saini in the mid-field.

Mid-field general Ram Pal has the necessary experience to guide a young side. Being substituted in the second half against Bagan should not reflect anything on his abilities or staying power, Sukhwinder explained. Instead, it was an opportunity to expose Harinder Singh and enhance the strength of the bench for the battles to come. Besides, of course, the need to bring in fresh legs in place of those weary with a severe workload.

Unbeaten East Bengal have conceded only two goals in the competition so far. They survived a harrowing time against FC Kochin on Saturday, winning 2-1 after trailing by an early goal. Coach Manoranjan Bhattacharya had castigated his players for casual play at the start of the match — a feature, he said, that had marked East Bengal’s campaign in this League.But today he reflected on the team’s attempts to adjust to the hot and humid conditions in Goa.

Bhaichung Bhutia and Raman Vijayan are the big stars in the attack, while Carlton Chapman, another International, boosts the mid-field. The Calcutta side have probably the best foreigner in India at the moment, in Ghanian Emmanuel Opoku, an attacking mid-fielder. However, Bhattacharya may have to do without another Ghanian, Musah, for the second match in succession.

The African pulled out of the last match against Kochin at the eleventh hour after experiencing pain in his chest. The discomfort, it was diagnosed, is a slight crack in the ribs.

First choice goalkeeper Kalyan has more or less recovered from injury and should take the field tomorrow for Goan fans, ex-Salgaocar’s Franky Barreto should capture attention in the Calcutta side’s defence. So will Ratan Singh, who assisted Churchill last season. The wing-back, however, will have to be cautious after collecting a yellow in the last match.

So tooBhutia, who according to Bhattacharya, is playing better this season. “He is showing a lot of initiative to fall back and make moves,” Bhattacharya said. A needless yellow towards the end of the match against Kochin places pressure on the India star who has scored six goals so far. Raman Vijayan heads the list with eight. The last encounter was a one-all draw in the IFA shield late last year.