Preview: Mohun Bagan aim to extend dream I-League run

Barasat, April 7 (IANS): Leaders Mohun Bagan will aim to maintain their unbeaten run in the I-League football tournament when they take on Shillong Lajong FC at the Barasat stadium on Wednesday. Mohun Bagan is in the midst of a dream run having won their three previous matches and are perched at the top of the league with 24 points from 10 games.

They have banged in 20 goals in the process with the attacking trio of Sony Norde, Katsumi Yusa and "marquee" player Pierre Boya firing on all cylinders. They will head into the game psychologically well placed after beating Shillong 4-3 in a thrilling away match on February 27.

But Shillong will hardly be a pushover for the formidable hosts, particularly after the 6-0 demolition of Mumbai FC in their last game. The big margin victory was brought about by the brilliance of striker Cornell Glen who scored twice to push his tournament goal tally up to nine in 10 matches.

Shillong Lajong FC Coach Thangboi Singto is unlikely to tinker with the winning team on Wednesday. "We aspire to give a good performance in every match. So against Mohun Bagan we go with the same belief and confidence in what we can do as a team," Singto said. He acknowledged that Mohun Bagan will be a tough nut to crack but was still upbeat about a decent performance.

"We expect it to be the toughest match of the season as we play the top team who is still unbeaten. We expect a good performance from all our players." But his team's aspirations may take a hit due to the injuries to key players Boithang Haokip and Joseph Lalfakzuala, whose availability will be decided on matchday morning, the coach said.

Mohun Bagan has no such worries but will take the field without suspended midfielder Bikramjit Singh.