Pune FC have a point to make

Back in their own backyard, Pune Football Club looks forward to reverse their run in the I-League 2011-12 when they take on table toppers Dempo SC in Round 6.

Having suffered two reverses in away matches to East Bengal and Prayag United SC respectively, the home side expects to extract the advantage of playing among their own fans when they step out on the Balewadi Sports Complex pitch.

In fact, among the many positives that Pune FC will rely on is the fact that they hold the distinction of being one of the two teams to have beaten the Goans at the Federation Cup this year.

Moreover, Pune FC at home has an unbeaten record against Dempo SC, includes a win and draw from previous meetings which make up another positive.

Coach Derrick Pereira opines, “It’s our home match and we have performed better in Pune and we need to concentrate on doing just that.”

Aware that the team has not won a point since Round-3, he adds, “We have to get a result and for that the need of the hour is to play above potential.” Incidentally, this is something that the coach has been drilling into the players at every practice session.

He adds, “Away matches are different and we need not think much about what has happened instead move forward.”

Pune FC (5 points) is currently in tenth place, while Dempo carry forward an all-win League run into this game apart from the top spot they hold currently.

With a positive result as the only one-point agenda, the Pune FC coach feels that the only way out is to approach the game with a consistent attack and defence, which includes dealing with couple of injuries on hand.

To begin with, goalkeeper Shahinlal Meloly is recovering from the knock he took during the last match in Kolkata. The Kerala custodian is in the 18-man line up with a decision pending on him playing kept on hold until Saturday morning. The alternative for the position is third-choice Amrinder Singh as Subrata Paul is not yet recovered.

With injuries to key players that include striker Mandjou Keita, medios Asim Hasan, Derrick explains, “Injuries to key players is just one aspect, but the unexpected additions ahead of big matches make it tougher.”

On the game ahead, the coach adds, “It is a big match and we will try our best to get a result whatever be the situation. In fact, despite it all I still maintain that we are as good as any other team.”

Meanwhile, Pune FC will miss the services of left-wing back Gurjinder Kumar who carries forward a double booking. On the other hand, left medio Paresh Shivalkar is declared fit. Striker Mandjou Keita has also been included in the team.

Over the years, Pune FC and Dempo SC have figured in close exciting encounters wherever they have met. In the six meetings so far not once has any game ended scoreless. So far, Pune FC hold the edge winning three, Dempo SC once apart from two draws.

With the margin of wins by both teams down to 1 goal, there’s an interesting statistic that suggests a close encounter in the offing. For the record, 12 out of the 18 goals scored in six Pune FC-Dempo encounters have come in the second half!

A win for Pune FC would make it a hat trick with the 3-2 victory that put a spoke in Dempo SC’s title chances last year and the Federation Cup win this year making up the previous two matches.