HAVING WON two matches in three, Chennaiyin FC will host a struggling ATK side on December 7.
2015 ISL winner’s last game against FC Pune City saw them narrowly edge out an in-form FC Pune City. Coach John Gregory was not a happy man seeing the performance shown by his side. In his own words, after the game Gregory said,
“That’s probably the worst we’ve played over the course of the season. We haven’t played for 10 days and it took us a while to get going.”
Positives for Chennaiyin have been the back-to-back clean sheets the team has kept. It is a much improved sign from the disastrous opening game where the defence never looked in place, opening up easily.
ATK are finding it tough to score goals and worse is to know who could get them the goals. The foreign forward line has been less impressive and it has not helped by the growing list of injured players. Robbie Keane and Jayesh Rane have been out for a long time, Eugenson Lyngdoh looks to be heading in that list too. Carl Baker, as the reports suggest, is no longer with the team due to injury and will have ATK get his replacement.
Jeje, Chennaiyin FC, is a fan favourite and has a knack of scoring goals worth remembering. The 2017-18 season, so far, has not seen the striker get off the mark in terms of goals. John Gregory has placed his trust in Jeje and handed him starts in all games. Out of the five goals by Chennaiyin FC, only one has been from a striker. Not long before the coach starts using his bench to find new sources for the goal.
Teddy Sheringham’s ATK have had just one game to be very proud of, the one against Kerala Blasters FC. If it wasn’t for the heroics of KBFC’s keeper, ATK would definitely have more than just a goal so far in the league. Bipin Singh the youngster, who scored a number of goals in pre-season has got the only goal for the team in ISL 2017-18. With under-performing foreigners and increase in number of injury-hit players, Teddy must arrive at a winning formula for soon before making it to the playoffs become distant from reach.
Chennaiyin coach John Greogry, may have to start rotating a few players in the front line to see if that works for goal scoring. In their third home game, Chennaiyin must make the most of the home support to get three consecutive victories on the trot.