MARGAO
Churchill Brothers face table-toppers Minerva Punjab FC in a high-pressure I-League match at Tilak Maidan, Vasco on Friday at 5.30 pm. The Red Machine went down by a solitary goal to second-placed Neroca FC on Tuesday, to end their three-match winning run that had lifted them from the bottom of the table.
Now, the Varca-based team faces the in-form team Minerva, in their bid to continue their recovery after a terrible start to the season and Churchill Bros coach Alfred Fernandes seems a bit tense. “Though it’s going to be tough, we have no option but to play for a win,” he said. “We require full three points to keep away from the relegation zone and improve our position.”
The morale of the players is high and I’m confident that they will play to win .“We will be playing the most important game of the season and as I have said in the past that my aim is to win every game, so against Minerva my team will be going all out. It will be a tough game and we need to believe in our abilities,” said Fernandes . Fernandes said they will play their usual game and try to create chances. Churchill Bros will obviously miss the services of striker Uttam Rai, who has picked up a hamstring injury and will be doubtful starter against the Punjab team.
Meanwhile, Fernandes came down heavily on referee, saying the difference in the result 0-1 against Neroca was the referee, who awarded the visitors a ‘soft’ penalty. “The difference was the referee I think. We had a chance to equalise but we were not so lucky yesterday. We have no problems in losing a game. Congratulations to Neroca FC. I don’t have problem to lose. But this way it’s very very harsh.”
