By IANS
Kolkata : Mohun Bagan take on I-league leaders Dempo S.C. in a crucial encounter at the Salt Lake Stadium Saturday with the scales tilted in favour of the Goan outfit.
Only four points separate the two sides with Dempo on 31, with skipper Baichung Bhutia ruled out with a double booking and leftback N. Mohanraj nursing a hamstring injury.
Even a draw against the green-and-maroons would suffice for Dempo as they meet the considerably easy opponents Viva Kerala and Salgaocar S.C. in their next two encounters.
However, Bagan coach Carlos Pereira put up a brave face while talking to reporters on the match eve in spite of missing two of his key players and a not fully-fit Jose Ramirez Barreto. “I think it’s Dempo who are on pressure. They’ll be playing an away match after all,” he said.
“To keep our title hopes alive we need to come out firing all cylinders tomorrow and the boys are ready for it,” he added. Meanwhile, in the absence of Bhutia, Pachau Lalawmpuiya and Barreto will play as the two strikers.
Barreto is nursing a sore ankle since Bagan’s previous match against Salgaocar, which will keep the coach tensed up. A scan Friday showed no fracture.
Like his coach, Barreto too feels that Saturday’s encounter would be a “do-or-die” one for the Calcutta Premier League champions. “The picture will hopefully become clear tomorrow (Saturday),” he said, adding, “Dempo aren’t too good in defence as compared to their midfield and offence.”
Nonetheless, Bagan’s ace striker admitted that Bhutia’s absence is always “a big loss”.
Meanwhile, Bagan’s find of the tournament N. Mohanraj has given way to Rahul Kumar who would join Peter Odafe, N.S. Manju and Habibur Rehman in the green-and-maroon defence. Medio Shanmugam Venkatesh too is all set to make a comeback.
On the other hand, the last four games have not been all too well for the league-toppers with just one win, a draw and a couple of losses. However, with the full-strength squad stretching themselves to the limit during their match-eve training, the hosts could well be up for a tough time when they take on the Goans.
Ranty Martins and Edeh Chidi in the upfront, supported by a midfield boasting of Beto, Anthony Pereira and Climax Lawrence makes Dempo a formidable outfit. The Bagan coach fears that their weakness in defence may just snap under continuous pressure.