Second-placed ATK Mohun Bagan are determined to defeat NorthEast United FC (NUFC) in their ISL match on Tuesday to keep pace with table-toppers Mumbai City FC.
NorthEast United FC occupy the fifth position on the ISL table with a tally of 15 points from twelve matches so far. They have lost two, drawn two, and won just once in their five previous ISL matches.
For NorthEast United, life in the Indian Super League without Gerard Nus has been off to a rather positive start. Snapping a winless run against Jamshedpur FC propelled them all the way to fifth on the table.
It’s a different style to what Bengaluru play,” Brown explained, ahead of the clash with ATKMB. “I think we will get more scoring opportunities here. I like the style and it will do better for me in the long run as well. The difference is that these guys, they tried to penetrate down the middle as compared to Bengaluru. At Bengaluru, they try to go out wide and play crosses, but the delivery of the crosses is not great which makes it really difficult for the strikers to score.”
Brown’s promising debut along with a potential return to form for Federico Gallego — who assisted both goals against Jamshedpur — augurs well for NEUFC. “We’ll stick to the plan,” said Brown. “They are a good team but any team can beat any team. We just have to get going from the beginning and things will happen.”
ATK Mohun Bagan coach Antonio Habas underlined the importance of scoring the first goal as it then allows the team to play in a more organised fashion.
The Kolkata outfit have won five out of their seven matches with a 1-0 scoreline in the seventh edition of the Indian Super League (ISL). They also have the second best defence in the league with only five goals conceded in 12 matches.
Habas refused to take Khalid Jamil’s side lightly as he believes that they have some good players in their ranks.
“In football, no two matches are the same. It was one competitive match. We are not over confident because we won that one. We have due respect for NorthEast and we have to be at our best to win the match.
“They are a difficult opponent. They have good players and they will make it difficult for us,” he pointed.
