I-League: East Bengal looks to return to winning ways

East Bengal is third on the leaderboard with 17 points from nine matches while DSK is at the bottom with just six points in its bag.

East Bengal coach Biswajit Bhattacharya will be aware that his team, which sits third in the table, cannot afford any more slip ups if it has to stay alive in the title race.

After losing to Salgaocar FC in its last encounter, East Bengal will look to get back to winning ways when it takes on top division newcomer DSK Shivajians in an I-League contest here on Sunday.

The visitor is third on the leaderboard with 17 points from nine matches while DSK is at the bottom with just six points in its bag.

In its last outing, East Bengal was stunned 1-3 by Salgaocar in Goa, whereas prior to that the team from Kolkata had beaten Salgaocar 2-1 in Kolkata. East Bengal coach Biswajit Bhattacharya will be aware that his team cannot afford any more slip ups if it has to stay alive in the title race.

The host on the other hand, drew its last two league outings. Both times of these matches were against fellow top flight debutants Aizawl FC and ended with the same 1-1 scoreline.

DSK coach Derrick Pereira would want his side to put in another strong performance and will look to his forwards Aser Pierrick Dipanda and Douhou Pierre to trouble the East Bengal defence.

East Bengal was found wanting in pace when it played Salgaocar last time and that is what Pereira would try and exploit.

However, the visitor has match winners in the squad who can turn a game upside down within a matter of minutes and Bhattacharya would rely on such big names like Ranti Martins and Do Dong Hyun to conjure up some magic against DSK.

Martins has scored eight goals in nine matches and is the second highest scorer in the competition. Though DSK might give East Bengal a run for its money, the latter will be expected to gather the full three points from the contest.