Kolkata: Jamshedpur FC will aim for a first win when they face defending champions ATK in their first home match at the JRD Tata Complex on Friday. The Indian Super League newbies apart from a win are yet to score a goal in the competition and head coach Steve Coppell minced no words about going for the kill against the two-time title winners.
“Now the onus is on us as the home team to go for the three points and that is what we will do,” said Coppell ahead of the match against ATK.
It will also be for the first time that the stadium in Jharkhand will host a game and talking of the historic match, Mehtab Hossain said, “I’ve seen that the stadium gets packed in Jharkhand when a cricket match takes place here, so it would be amazing to see the stadium packed for a football match too. We are very proud to be part of this historic match.”
Separated by only 300 kilometers, only a point separates the two clubs and a ‘win’ is something that both are searching for. It would however not be an easy task for the ‘Men of Steel’ against the wounded lions, who will be rearing for a fight, especially after that 4-1 humiliating defeat against FC Pune.
“It’s an important match for us especially after that loss but you brush yourselves off and prepare for the next game and that’s what we’ve done,” said ATK head coach Teddy Sheringham.
The current champions put up a gritty display against Kerala Blasters in their opener but succumbed under pressure against Pune. Their defence was weak as Pune scored two of four goals from counter-attacks.
“We played well against Pune but it was disappointing to concede four goals. We had equalised but conceded soon after that. We have to focus on the counterattacks of the opponent Jamshedpur have very good attackers. Let us see what happens,” added the ATK gaffer.
A similar problem lies up-front for the Kolkata based franchise whose strikers have been misfiring with 14 out of 23 shots, out of target. The fans chanted Robbie Keane’s name during the last match but the Irish legend is yet to return and all Sheringham could do was to keep the hopes alive, “hoping to have him back soon,” he concluded.