JOIN USChance for Bengaluru to jump to top of table
Champions Bengaluru FC will look to make the most of their opportunity to climb to the summit of the league table when they take on Shillong Lajong in their I-League tie at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Friday.
With four games to the end of the season and only a point separating Bengaluru and leaders Mohun Bagan, a win in every game starting Friday will mean Westwood’s boys keep the trophy they won on debut last season, in Bengaluru. But despite being in the middle of a fantastic 10-game undefeated run in all competitions, Westwood said his team would take nothing for granted against an opponent who has always made for tough competition whenever the teams have met.
“We’ve only got four games left so every one of them is important. We are on the luxury that if we do win all our games we will win the League. So, the title is in our own hands as it is in Mohun Bagan’s because we play each other and if they win all their matches they’ll win the league,” said Westwood while addressing the press on Thursday.
Back after booking a place in the last-16 of the AFC Cup with a win away to Maldivian club Maziya S&RC, Bengaluru put on a prolific show to beat East Bengal 3-0 in their last league outing.
The win was also Bengaluru’s third straight clean sheet in the League – an endorsement enough of a stingy defence that has been tough to get past.
Bagan meanwhile, suffered a 1-0 loss to tenth-placed Bharat FC on Tuesday to fritter away an advantage.
Sitting eighth on the table, Lajong come into the fixture on the back of a confidence-inducing 3-0 win over Dempo SC and will look to build on the result knowing three points will catapult them to 6th position. However, the hosts have a big void in attack with club top-scorer Cornell Glenn missing the game with a suspension and will look to Uilliams Souza Silva to fire. Meanwhile, Bengaluru have traveled with a completely fit and all-available squad.