North-East United look to get back to winning ways

North-East United FC look to arrest their poor run of form and get back to winning ways as they stare at risk of missing out on a place in the semi-finals of the Hero Indian Super League.

North-East United set the ISL 3 alight winning three of their first four matches but since that bright start, North-East United have failed to get full points, drawing one and losing the last two matches at home. They now face Mumbai City FC in their next clash at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwaha?i on Saturday and will need to bring in massive improvements to fight their way back among the top four.

“We are not bad even though we have lost the last two games which is six points at home but we are creating a lot of chances. Of course, it’s only a matter of time that we will be back and we will fight to be in a good position,” said North-East head coach Nelo Vingada. It is not just the losses that will worry the Portuguese tactician. North-East’s first three victories all came with clean sheets, conceding just one goal in their opening four matches. But they have now conceded four goals in their last three matches and have been unable to manage a single clean sheet.

Goalkeeper Subrata Paul, one of the most impressive goalkeepers in this edition of the ISL, was injured in the last game and his absence could hurt the hosts. Subrata has made 24 saves, just two less than Edel Bete this season, and has three clean sheets to his credit. Mumbai City FC coach Alexandre Guimaraes will be understandably confident that his team can continue with their impressive performances.

“I think draw was a fair result against Chennaiyin FC. It’s a good point for us but for them maybe it’s not a good point. After playing the way we did in Kolkata and winning, coming to Chennai and playing against the champions, getting this draw in the end, the confidence is really high in my team,” said Guimaraes.