Shillong Lajong coach protests inadequate practice slot provided by East Bengal

AS EAST BENGAL host Shillong Lajong in Siliguri for their home leg encounter, the organization of the match has run into shallow waters with the visiting camp being irked by the treatment meted out to them.

Lajong wanted to conduct their pre-matchday practice session in the afternoon but East Bengal officials only allowed them to practice in the Kanchanjunga Stadium - which hosted the first leg Kolkata Derby on Sunday - in the morning for less than one hour.

Lajong head coach Thangboi Singto boycotted the pre-match press conference over this, saying East Bengal should have allowed the visiting team a fair amount of time to practice. 

East Bengal officials defended the decision saying that the watering schedule of the pitch prevented them from allowing Lajong a longer window for practice.

Either way, this episode has left a bad taste in everyone's mouth. Interestingly, Shillong Lajong's recent record against East Bengal is filled with so-called "upset victories" in the Meghalaya-based club's favour. Of the last 5 matches played between them, Lajong won 3, East Bengal won just 1 and 1 match ended in a draw. This has given rise to speculation as to whether or not there is added motive behind this apparent mishap.