Shillong Lajong FC to take on Salgaocar FC in I-League match

Shillong: After a five match unbeaten streak, Shillong Lajong FC are set to play their fourth home match of the Hero I-League against Salgaocar FC here on Saturday.

Lajong are coming into the game on the back of a five match unbeaten streak, but having drawn four out of their last five league matches.

The local outfit will look to capitalise on home advantage towards the end of the season with the match against the Goan side being the first of a seven game run of home fixtures stretching right until the last match of the season.

Admitting that every match now is crucial for the team, Shillong Lajong FC head coach Thangboi Singto said, "The situation we are at the moment is every match is very crucial.

We have to get a result every week.

"Pressure is there but that is part of the job. We have to give our best and climb a little bit higher in the table," he said.

Salgaocar FC, on the other hand, are on a poor run of form having lost four consecutive games and fatigue will play its part as they will be playing their third match in a week and their head coach Derrick Perreira emphasising on the tough situation the club is facing.

"It is tough. Although we performed well in the last four matches, we could not get the result we expected due to circumstances which were not in our hands and the conditions which also affected our results, even though not our performance," he said.

Shillong Lajong FC have been stringing up together a run of good games after the break with the 6-0 drubbing over Mumbai FC reinstating their ambitions to finish high up the I-League standings.

Mumbai coach Perreira rates Shillong Lajong as one of the top teams in the league and has backed this statement stating Lajong have benefited from the return of their foreign players, specially their star striker Cornel Glen.

Shillong Lajong FC will go into the match with two of their defensive stalwarts being sidelined with injuries.

Captain Aibor Khongjee is out with a toe injury, full back Robing Gurung is also out and forward Seiminlen Doungel will also be doubtful from the start of the match.

The home team is currently at the ninth position with 13 points, while the visitors from Goa are just one place above the former with 14 points.