Kolkata: Leaders Dempo will look to return to winning ways and consolidate their position at the top when they face minnows Pailan Arrows in an I-League return leg fixture at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Sunday.
Dempo SC are on 40 points from 19 matches but lost their last match to Pune FC, while Arrows have eight from 17 matches and are yet to win a match.
Dempo SC will be without the services of Debabrata Roy, suspended with a double booking, while Pailan Arrows will be missing Bijendra Rai for the same reason.
Dempo coach Mauricio Afonso on their loss to Pune FC said, "It was unfortunate that we lost as it was an opportunity for us to break away from the rest of the teams.
Although we are still on top now, we have to win tomorrow and regain our advantage as well as confidence."
"Arrows are a fit side and play well at home as most teams have come here and found out," he added.
But there would be problems aplenty for the AIFF developmental outfit as they will be without their technical director, Sukhwinder Singh, who quit citing personal reasons a few days ago.
It would be a real challenge for the outfit to bounce back from this stage.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, February 11, 2012, 22:25