Bengaluru FC under pressure ahead of Mohun Bagan match

Kolkata: With their lead cut to one-point, I-League leaders Bengaluru FC will be under pressure when they take on Mohun Bagan in an away fixture at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan here on Sunday.

Following Salgaocar`s 2-1 win over Pune yesterday, Bengaluru`s lead at the top is now down to just one point, but like them Mohun Bagan too are under pressure to get a win for their I-League survival. That the I-League debutantes have their remaining three fixtures away will make things difficult as they do not boast of a good record away with four wins in nine outings. In Mohun Bagan, who won 3-1 away at Sporting Clube two weeks ago, Bengaluru FC will have a tough opposition as the Karim Bencherifa-coached side is currently six points clear of the drop zone and will aim to finish in the top half winning their last three. The Ashley Westwood-coached side has won its last two away outings in Kolkata and the Englishman is confident going into the round 24 fixture in the business end. In the first-leg, both sides played out a 1-1 draw in the opening weekend of the season in September last year in a maiden fixture for Bengaluru. Since then the I-League debutantes have been on a dream run as they are three wins away from clinching the title. But Westwood said he likes it more when the team is travelling. "We got three away games which suits me, because we travel, we know where the boys are, we know what they are eating, we know what they are up to, which just makes the whole thing a bit more controlled without being a control freak if you like. We will be really focused to try and get something out of the season," he said. Mohun Bagan`s Moroccan coach said they will be keen to build on the winning momentum and finish on a high. "Bengaluru are top because they have simply been consistent with a lot of hard work being put in by everybody at the club. "We got a good result in the last match and hopefully that can push us forward," Bencherifa said. A win for Mohun Bagan will do their title-chasing arch rivals East Bengal a huge favour, but Bengaluru will be determined to get an away victory, especially after dropping points in their last two matches.