After conceding a 1-3 loss against Bengaluru FC in their last fixture, Jamshedpur FC would like to make amends when they take on Kerala Blasters FC in an Hero Indian Super League tie at GMC Stadium in Bambolim, Goa on Thursday evening.
The Men of Steel are eyeing a win and try to once again secure a place in the top 4. Jamshedur FC have slipped to the 5th spot (22 points, 13 matches, 6 wins, 4 draws and 3 losses) and would like to come up with a solid show and earn full 3 points.
The current stage has become very crucial for every team and Jamshedpur head coach Owen Coyle is aware nothing less than a win would assure them qualification in the play-offs.
"I think every game now is going to be a 6 pointer even though the winner gets 3 points because each time, you’ll be playing a direct rival. Of course, all the games ahead are big games and we have to make sure we are ready for it to go against a good side who has a wonderful coach and some very good players which make them a tough team to play against. Last time we faced them, we had a draw even though we could have walked out victorious but that being said, we have to make sure we are ready. But equally we know we have good qualities on our side as well, so we have to make sure we are at our best and if we are, then we have shown that we can win these tough games," Owen said
On the last clash against Kerala being an end-to-end game, he said, "It was an end-to-end game as it was two good teams going against each other as it will be again. It was a tight game as they are also a positive attacking side like we are. We currently have the most number of shots taken than any other team in the league and we will look to carry forward that threat again. But we also have to make sure we defend very well which Kerala Blasters have managed to do a job in as they have a very good defensive record. So, I think it's two very evenly matched teams and we have to make sure we come out of the right side of those small margins which we did not do the other night because we gave the win away to Bengaluru FC."
On what the team needs to do moving forward to ensure play-off qualification, the Scotland-born Owen stated the way forward for them in simplistic terms is to gather enough points and the only way to do that is by playing well in each and every game ahead.
"It might be a really cliche strategy to focus and win one game at a time but right now, we are really focusing only on Kerala Blasters FC and nothing else because this sport has always shown that when you look too far ahead then it comes back to bite you in the back. So, we have to make sure we are focused and we concentrate against Kerala Blasters FC and do our very best. If we do that, then we certainly feel we are capable of winning a very tough game," he added.
According to him, Peter Hartley (suspended for the last match versus Bengaluru) is back and available to play Thursday's fixture. "He (Hartley) is a tremendous influence on the team being a proper leader and hopefully he is in full health to come back into the line-up and we will go on from there."
