Cagey Mumbai FC looking to overturn rampant Mohun Bagan

by Kaushal Shukla May 2, 2015

Mumbai FC are back to home comforts after three successive away games, but they could face their toughest test so far when Champions elect Mohun Bagan come calling on Saturday evening.

Form Guide
Mohun Bagan have undoubtedly been the team to beat in this season’s I-League and have lost just once in the entire campaign and come into this game on the back of a 2-0 win against Pune FC at the Balewadi Stadium last week.

Mumbai FC on the other hand are winless in nine games and have won just three games all season, two of which have come on home soil against Salgaocar and Royal Wahingdoh back in February.

But the Mumbai side have found going tough at Cooperage with back to back defeats at the hands of Shillong Lajong and Dempo all but ending the fortress feel around Cooperage.

Although three successive away draws has managed to lift the spirits in the Mumbai FC camp, facing a red hot Mohun Bagan side will be a totally different proposition for the hosts.

What the history holds?
The history heavily favours the Mariners who haven’t lost a single game against Mumbai is the last eleven meetings between the two clubs. Mumbai FC’s last win over the Mariners came back in May 2010 when Mumbai ran out 2-0 winners.

Overall Mohun Bagan have beaten Mumbai FC eight times in the past and four of those wins have come in the last five games between the two clubs.

Team News
Mumbai FC continue to be without Japanese midfielder Taisuke Matsugae who is still recovering from the calf problem while Ashutosh Mehta is suspended after receiving his fourth yellow card in the last game.

Mohun Bagan will be without Balwant Singh who will serve the last of two game ban tomorrow. Apart from that Sanjoy Sen has no other injury worries ahead of the game.

Keys to Success
Mohun Bagan have won 73 percent of their games when they have scored the first goal in games this season while Mohun Bagan have avoided defeat on 90 percent of such occasions

Mumbai FC have avoided defeat 72 percent of the times when Josimar Da Silva has scored for tomorrow’s hosts.

A contingent of two-three hundred Mohun Bagan fans are expected to make the long trip to Mumbai to cheer their team and it will be absolutely vital for the hosts that their supporters pour into Cooperage to avoid the travelling supporters nullify Mumbai FC’s home advantage.

Winless in nine, Mumbai FC are due a win, but if it has to come againt Mohun Bagan then it will take some doing from the Mumbaikars and to be fair to them, they will have to dish out their best performance of the season so far if they are to halt Mohun Bagan’s title charge.