PANJIM:  After back-to-back defeats, Churchill Brothers will aim to register their first points season when they take on Kolkata heavyweights East Bengal in the I-League match, at Tilak Maidan, Vasco, on Wednesday.

The hosts are yet to open their account and are currently in the eight position in the league table, but Churchill Brothers FC coach Alfred Fernandes is optimistic about his team ahead of their crucial clash against the Kolkata side.

“My preparation is going very well. My boys are very enthusiastic ahead of the tomorrow’s match and they are roaring to go all out. They are doing hard work in the practice sessions and which is a very positive side for us to go forward,” said Alfred Fernandes during the pre-match conference.

 “Every time we step on the field, we go with a three points in our mind but due to some mistakes made by us we lost our matches. We are giving our best and you can see that in our last two matches,” added Alfred.

Churchill Brothers dominated their opening fixture against Mohun Bagan yet failed, and also lost their previous encounter against Mumbai FC to a injury time winner.

“We conceded that goal in the last minute of the added time and for that one counter from opponents, I cannot blame my players. It’s a football and it happens sometimes.” he concluded.   

 “It is a must-not-lose match for us. We have to come out with at least a point or maximum points. In the last two matches, I was not disappointed with the performance but even if we did not win the matches, at least we could have come home with a point,” Churchill coach Alfred Fernandes said.

Man of the match against Mumbai FC, Adil Khan said, “East Bengal is a very tough team. They have a good squad and nice setup. But then, we are also trying hard in the practice. We also have some plans for them and if all goes in a right way we will execute it well.” 

Mohun Bagan are top of the table, with nine points from three matches. East Bengal drew their first game 1-1 with Aizawl FC at home and won 2-1 against DSK Shivajians in Pune to have four points after two matches.

East Bengal coach Trevor James Morgan takes on a Churchill side bereft of its top players and only Trinidad and Tobago forward Anthony Wolfe to look forward to.

“I think at the moment, all of our games are must win games, if we want to be challenging for the title. We are certainly trying and we are prepared to win the game. We’ve got some more firepower than we had in our first game. In the game against DSK (Shivajians), I thought we looked pretty good going forward,” Morgan said on Tuesday.

“We are here well prepared and looking forward to taking all three points from here,”

“I am expecting a very difficult match. They were excellent against Mohun Bagan and very unfortunate not to get anything. They conceded very late on against Mumbai FC so that leaves no point and they’ll be desperate to get some points on the table. So we can’t expect anything less than a very difficult game,” Morgan added.

“I think at the moment, all of our games are must win games, if we want to be challenging for the title. We are certainly trying and we are prepared to win the game. We’ve got some more firepower than we had in our first game.”