ISL: Kerala hope to keep momentum going

KOCHI: It's not easy for a team to make a comeback after a 1-3 defeat especially if you are pitted against a team who too have a victory by the same margin. Add the 'intimidating factor' of playing in front of 60,000 fans - Mumbai City FC will have to overcome these twin challenges when they confront Kerala Blasters in their den at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium on Saturday.
Blasters are a buoyant lot after their cracking start against NEUFC.The young legs of Sanchez Watt and Josu Currais Prieto add a lot of zeal to Blasters game and with local boys Mohammad Rafi and CK Vineeth too excelling in the opening match, Blasters are a threat to any opposition. Though manager Peter Taylor fielded a 5-3-2 formation against NEUFC, it is unlikely that he will stick to the same formation on Saturday's game considering the presence of talismanic marquee manager-cum-player Nicolas Anelka in Mumbai attack. Mumbai will miss the ser vices of national team players Sunil Chhetri and goalkeeper Subrata Paul while Sampath Kuttymani and Brandon Fernandes are out with an injury.
Mumbai's left back Keegan Pereira was put through the grinder by Pune's Israel Gurung and the defence in itself would be looking for an improved show on Saturday.
Though Mumbai enjoyed 54% of ball possession in their first game, their midfield and forward line lacked cohesion forcing Anelka to introduce himself in the 75th minute. "We are working on our defence and midfield. We cannot qualify for the knockouts if we continue to commit these type of mistakes," admitted Mumbai's French defender Frantz Bertin.