PREVIEW: Clean sheet would be a decent result for Minerva; Mumbai must define a designated striker

IT WOULD BE NOT CORRECT to classify both Minerva Punjab FC and Mumbai being in the same troubled phase that both clubs are going through. But the statistics that both these teams have had in the last 4 games are very similar. Both are winless in the last four.

If we delve further down, we unearth more troubles.

Mumbai FC: Scored just one goal and conceded 9 goals

Minerva Punjab: Scored none and conceded 12 goals

From the above, two problems are very clear.

• Goals are tough to come by
• Defence looks like a dam with all gates opened

As the league progresses, not conceding goals will have utmost priority over the other problem. If clean sheets start coming freely then the second problem can take care of its own. Of course, when faced with teams like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, who have a lethal strike force; it is difficult to be able to score. But we have already seen instances, where a threat to one's goal can be repelled by giving the tougher teams a taste of their own medicine. This is what Chennai City did against Mohun Bagan and DSK Shivajians also did with the Mariners.

Of course, sometimes strategies work, sometimes they don't.  That is the reason, the same strategy worked for Shivajians but not for Chennai, in spite of Chennai scoring the first goal. Now, some will see Minerva Punjab as an underdog in this fixture but the statistic comparison puts Minerva in the same boat as Mumbai. Both need a clean sheet more than the need to score.

Mumbai's leaky defence is a problem that originates from the central midfield. There have been defensive invasions that have come as a result of a porous midfield. A strong standing midfield has been near absent till the arrival of Theobald. His presence in the middle of the pitch has resolved the sort of translucent midfield that shielded the defence.

Minerva first venture into the I-League can come down crashing if they do not try to limit the damage that teams are trying to inflict on them. Against Mumbai, a clean sheet should equivalent to a win for them as they slowly get their act together.

Mumbai's best bet in this fixture is to try to score as many as possible. But where will the goals come from? They have lacked a designated striker who can be relied on to get them on the scrore sheet. Karan Sahwney, Mumbai FC's leading scorer, with two goals, has not made it even once into the starting lineup. Farukh had a good last game was unable to play the entire game due to an injury. Robinho, the new signing from Brazil did not feature in the last game. So who is going to be the target man or a designated striker to get the goods that Mumbai FC is in dire need of?

Prediction

Minerva should look to fortify their backline to contain a few dashes that Thoi Singh or Farukh or Sawhney (should they play) are capable of. If they are able to press their opponents away from their own half, we should see Minerva Punjab sailing through with a clean sheet, which will be a decent result for them.

For Mumbai, it will be good chance to get back to winning ways should Minerva continue to expose their flaws in the back line.

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