FC Pune City's away form not worrying head coach David Platt

David Platt’s men have managed just a solitary point from three away games

FC Pune City will look to climb to the top of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) standings with a win against Mumbai City FC when the two sides meet in Mumbai on Friday. FC Pune City sit just a point behind leaders FC Goa in the table and a win on the road could make FC Pune City favorites to make the semi-final spots.

But FC Pune City have had points hard to come by on the road, with David Platt’s men able to manage just a single point from their three away games. Also, two of their three defeats have come on the road and FC Pune City will have to produce a good performance against an arguably weakened Mumbai City FC side if they are to end their winless run on the road.

But manager David Platt isn’t reading too much into FC Pune City’s away form and insists the results on the road could have gone his team’s way on certain occasions.

“We have only played three games away from home and it has been difficult. In Chennai, although we could have been out of the game in the first half, we finished well and could have got something. In Goa again we finished well.”

“The only real performance we have had all season that displeased me totally was Kerala away, but it was our fourth match in 11 days with three of them being away,” explained the former Manchester City assistant coach.

Mumbai game will be a difficult tie: Platt

Pune City made a good start to their campaign and were largely expected to steal their place in the semifinals comfortably ahead of others. That has not exactly happened and Pune find themselves in second place behind FC Goa and tied on points with Delhi Dynamos.

“Every team has gone through a patch where they have not been at their best. The parity in the league means there are no favourites, so others expectations have no consequence with me,” said Platt.

The Englishman expects yet another tough away test in Mumbai and has urged his team to maintain their discipline if they wish to take anything from the game.

“Mumbai City will be a difficult game for us, away from home against a team that is there or thereabouts, so we will have to be disciplined in our play and confident to get the result,” said Platt.

FC Pune City have been the only side not to have dropped out of the top four positions and a win against Mumbai City FC might just help them put daylight between them and their opponents.