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Shillong Lajong will look forward to pocket full points as they host Air India in a Round 18 match of the I-League here at JN Sports Complex on Monday (January 28).
Lajong have not had great time of late and are in dire need for a win against the Airmen.
Lajong are, of course, a couple of spots ahead of Air India, but they have played as many as three matches more. Lajong are placed ninth with 15 points while Air India are placed 11th with 14 points.
On the other hand, with the conditions not too familiar, Air India will be happy if they get a point from the match.
During their last tie at Pune, Lajong had hold Air India to a 1-1 draw. After the practice, Lajong coach Thongboi Singto said: “All the players are available for Monday’s match and we will go all out to pocket full points.” The north-easter side have sacked Desmond Bulpin and this the first match for Thongboi as the coach.
Air India, meanwhile, will again miss their first goalkeeper, Sukhwinder Singh. Though he has been travelling with the team, he is nursing injury and is all set to be rested. Young Jagroop Singh, however, have done excellent job under the woodwork.
“We have Sukhwinder in the squad but he is unlikely to play tomorrow as he has a hamstring injury,” coach Anthony Fernandes said. “We have signed in an Afgan player under the Asian quota but he has some issues with visa which we hope will be sorted out soon. Apart from him, all the players are available for tomorrow’s match,” said the coach.
Lajong, who has another four matches at home, will have to utilize to the home situation and pocket maximum of the 12 points up for grabs.
