Preview:- SC East Bengal vs Jamshedpur FC
The men from Steel city will battle it out against the league debutants SC East Bengal who is still searching for a point to get off their Indian Super League journey. Jamshedpur FC got their first win in the last match against ATK Mohun Bagan FC who were on a roller coaster ride after winning three in a row. Jamshedpur FC will start as a favorite in this match as his super striker Nerijus Valskis is in red hot form, already netted five goals in four outings.
SC East Bengal is yet to net any goals in the tournament so far, they will be looking to net an early goal in the match so that they get an advantage in the match going forward with whereas Owen Coyle and his boys will look to increase their goal difference.
Three Indian Players and Three foreign players to look out for SC East Bengal
The three Indian players to look out for are Narayan Das, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Mohammed Irshad. Narayan Das who is slowly inching towards the 100 appearances in ISL milestone will play a huge role in three-man defense for Robbie Fowler and Co., he crossed fourteen in three matches and blocked eight possessing a 63% passing accuracy. Jeje Lalpekhlua, after getting back from an injury did not get enough chance of playing, the Liverpool legend might go ahead with Jeje today instead of Balwant Singh in the starting XI. Mohammed Irshad had been an asset to this defense line-up especially after Danny Fox got injured against Mumbai City FC. He made the most number of passes on the team after Anthony Pilkington.
The three foreign players to look out for are Anthony Pilkington, Jacques Maghoma, Matti Steinmann. Anthony Pilkington was not able to get his striking partner in place, he was the lone star for SC East Bengal in the last three matches, from taking shots on target to taking set-pieces and also at the end of swerving crosses in the box. Jacques Maghoma failed to perform as he was expected to, after forming a pair with Pilkington in the midfield, the combination did not click yet, the coaching staff is still looking for him to start clicking and taking advantage of the set-pieces and those dangerous runs going inside the flanks. Matti Steinman gave SC East Bengal another option of a defender who is basically playing in front of a three-man defense has somehow done his task brilliantly making twelve tackles in three outings, obtaining a passing accuracy of 73%. He will be the player to look out for for today’s match.
Three Indian and Three foreign players to watch out for Jamshedpur FC
The three Indian players to watch out for are Mobashir Rahman, Ricky Lallawmawma, Jackichand Singh. The local lad Mobashir had been the most consistent performer in the whole JFC squad after Valskis, we’ve seen him taking shots on target and also snatching the ball from the opposition and starting the attack at that point in time. He took seven shots on goal in three outings and maintaining a passing accuracy of 66%. The new recruit this year on the left-back, Ricky made some crucial blocks, some good clearances, and also made some clear foul on the opposition, he started getting a regular place in Owen Coyle’s starting line-up. Jackichand Singh has already made one assist in his four outings, his combination with Nerijus Valskis is still shaping it out, after the combination starts to click, then it will be deadly to watch out for.
The three foreigners to look out for are Nerijus Valskis, Aitor Monroy, Peter Hartley. Nerijus Valskis started the tournament where he left off last year, already bagged five goals in four matches, that includes two against the best defensive team in the tournament, he will be the key player for Jamshedpur FC in this fixture. Aitor Monroy is the player to watch out for as he is the heart of this team, from giving long passes to either flank to taking free-kicks and corners. Peter Hartley was brilliant in their last outing, from restricting Roy Krishna to making few goal-line clearances, he played like a Captain and helped his team to get the first win of the tournament with all his experience.
Injuries
Jamshedpur FC will not be able to get the service of Narender Gahlot and John Fitzergald. SC East Bengal will not get their captain Dannny Fox and Aaron Holloway.
Line-up
SC East Bengal (3-4-2-1)
Debjit Majumder (GK), Mohammed Irshad (CB), Sehnaj Singh (CB), Scott Neville (CB), Surchandra Singh (RWB), Narayan Das (LWB), Matti Steinman (CDM), Anthony Pilkington (LW), Jacques Maghoma (RW), Wahengbam Angousang (CM), Jeje Lalpekhlua (FW)
SUBSTITUTES:- Sankar Roy, Abhishek Ambekar, Balwant Singh, Bikash Jairu, CK Vineeth, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Samad Ali Mollick, Mohammed Rafique, Rana Gharami
Jamshedpur FC (4-2-3-1)
TP Reehenesh (GK), Laldinliana Reinthei (RB), Peter Hartley (CB), Stephen Eze (CB), Ricky Lalawawma(LB), Aitor Monroy (CDM), Amarjit Singh Kiyam(CDM), Mobashir Rahman(CAM), Alex Lima (LW), Jackichand Singh (RW), Nerijus Valskis (FW)
SUBSTITUTES:- Pawan Kumar, Joyner Lourenco, Karan Amin, Narender Gahlot, Sandip Mandi, Issac Vanmalsawma, Jitendra Singh, David Grande, John Fitzergald, William Lalnunfela.
Predictions:-
Jamshedpur can easily win this match with a goal or two, the form Nerijus Valskis is in.