I-League: Churchill brace for DSK test (Preview)

After a winless run that has stretched to not less than five games, the onus will be on Churchill Brothers FC to put DSK Shivajians to the test as the two lock horns in an I-League fixture at the Fatorda Stadium here on Sunday.

As far as Churchill Brothers coach Derrick Pereira is concerned, he will be up against former employers DSK Shivajians.

"The players are responding well to the training. Every match now, we will have to go for a win and we have to play organised football in attack and defence. We cannot leave spaces whether it is DSK Shivajians or Mohun Bagan," Pereira said on the eve of the match.

"The positivity from the last match is that we scored four goals and we need to make fewer mistakes. We discussed a lot of things and we worked on the pitch and I'm sure we will put up a good show," he added.

Shivajians hold a four-point cushion over the Goan side as they sit comfortably in the sixth position in the table on 10 points while the former I-League champions are languishing at the bottom of the table with six points.

"There has been a little bit of inconsistency on our behalf this year. Churchill are looking to improve after every game and like I expect every week, I'm expecting a tough game. We've conceded some very sloppy goals very late on.

"At the minute we are sitting in mid-table, but this league if anybody puts a couple of wins together, then it can propel you to the top three top four and we are looking to get up the table as high as we can," DSK coach Dave Rogers said.

The two teams had played out a 1-1 draw in Pune earlier this season and will be looking for a positive result after defeats in the last round.

"I think with coach Derrick Pereira coming into the team, we are gelling better. I think we can get a result if we play as a team and play for each other," Churchill Brothers striker Anthony Wolfe said about the change in atmosphere in the squad since the arrival of Pereira as coach.

--IANS

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