When DSK Shivajians ride into the city of Chennai seeking to overcome the recent woes that have befallen them, the hosts Chennai City FC will be eyeing a climb up from the bottom spot they find themselves in.
The round 12 I-League encounter on Sunday between the two teams is a potential six-pointer, considering the fact that only two points separate Chennai City FC and the sixth-placed DSK Shivajians.
Chennai City FC have been very poor of late, falling to insipid defeats to Shillong Lajong and Aizawl FC. V Soundararajan has had trouble getting his attack clicking with different partners being preferred along with Charles de Souza. There is very little creativity in the midfield as well with Dhanapal Ganesh and Denson Devadas providing solidity rather than creativity. But for Sunday's game, we might see Soundararajan play Zakeer Mundampara in midfield along with Ganesh.
The Chennai City gaffer has also expressed his intention to go into Sunday's game with all four of his foreigners - Aniyeche Echezona, Marcos Vinicius, Charles de Souza and Haroon Amiri. He will hope that the overseas recruits will step up to the occasion.
When Chennai City faced Mumbai FC earlier, they were bottom of the table but managed to notch a stirring win and moved up. They will want to channel similar spirits on Sunday.
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DSK Shivajians are also coming off a 3-0 reverse against Churchill Brothers. The Pune-based team have had a rough away ride of late and are playing their fifth away game on the spin. Coach Dave Rogers conceded that the constant travel has taken a toll on his young players. The last time, Chennai City played them in Pune, the Stallions wrapped up an easy 2-0 victory.
The English coach will be hoping for a similar result but has been handicapped by the injuries some of his crucial personnel have suffered. The most important of that is the ligament tear that Kim Seong-Yong has suffered and the South Korean striker has been ruled out for the season. While that is big blow, Sascha Kolunija and Sumeet Passi are also out of the reckoning for this game.
Chennai City, meanwhile, do not have the services of Raju Yumnam and Edwin which will open a space in the starting XI for youngster Nandhakumar.
Dave Rogers made no secret of his desire to see young players thrive in his team on the eve of the game. He will hope that the faith he has in his young players is not misplaced on Sunday night while Chennai City have no other option but to go for the jugular or find themselves more deeply embedded in the wrong end of the table.
Kick off is at 7:05 PM.
PREDICTED LINE-UPS:
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CHENNAI CITY FC:
Injured: Edwin Vanspaul, Raju Yumnam
Doubtful: Denson Devadas
Suspended: None
Key Player: Charles de Souza
DSK SHIVAJIANS FC:
Injured: Kim Seong-Yong, Sascha Kolunija, Sumeet Passi
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Key Player: Juan Quero