In an exclusive to MBC Karim said: ‘ We are in a very complex situation right now, and the only way out is to win! To get all of the 3 available points. We have no other option. We can’t think that 1 point will be sufficient because this is going to be a tough away match. 3 points – that’s what our team need most right now. As for the positives from the previous match, I being a positive person, am happy that there is just one injury that being of Shilton, and I have the whole team to my disposal. I am going to field the same team barring 1 or 2 changes. I would also like to thank our fans who have shown a lot of patience and have rested their faith on us.’
Deepak Mondal, the main man in the heart of the Mariners defense line, expressed his confidence in snatching the all important 3 points tomorrow

Mohun Bagan leaves for Goa today morning to play against Dempo on Friday, 31st October. Another high profile i-League match is going to be held on 31st October as Mohun Bagan and Dempo will be facing each other at Goa. This is a crucial match for both sides as the league is now still open and no team will afford to lose any point at this stage.

Mohun Bagan is currently at the 10th position the league table with 3 points, while Dempo having six points with only five matches completed in the season for the leading contenders of the title. The match will take place at the Dempo home ground at Goa, where the home side outclassed Mohun Bagan in last few occassions. A win would see Mohun Bagan go up in the points table, while a defeat would mean the end of Mohun Bagan’s title hope. Fans are now eagerly waiting for the Mohun Bagan vs Dempo showdown in the weekend.

Head Coach Karim indicated that Mohun Bagan will try to be little bit aggressive from the very beginning. Baichung and the players had a closed door session  with the officials. Baichung felt that the players are yet to achieve their peak form and expects that the team will perform better. With Lalawmpuia and Shilton opted out for injuries, Sangram, Chirodeep, Manju, Deepak, Habibur, Odafe, Vashan, Lalkamal, Ishfaq, L. James Singh , S. James Singh, Rakesh Masih, Mohanraj, Kartick Kisku, Tulunga, Marcos, Baichung and Barreto will be boarding the flight to Goa.

Mohun Bagan were held to 1-1 draw by East Bengal to share a point each.

It was once again Bagan who had won seven matches against East Bengal in a row at the Salt Lake Stadium drew the first blood. Mohun Bagan took the required lead in the second minute of the game.
Bagan skipper Baichung Bhutia received a pass from Ishfaq Ahmed and the Indian skipper had no problem in getting it past Subrata Pal to give Mohun Bagan the lead. It was a match that Bagan needed to win at any cost as they were placed eleventh in the league standing.

But Yakubu in the 39th minute set a perfect ball for Nabi inside the box and the latter had no problems in getting it past the Bagan custodian Shilton to score the equalizer.

With action and emotions coming out of players at regular interval the second half saw East Bengal players losing their calm and paying the price. Surkumar Singh first tackled Masih and then manhandled his national teammate Baichung Bhutia to get a red card against his name and reduce his team to 10 men. The situation became worse when East Bengal custodian Subrata Pal was shown the yellow card for protesting against the decision.

But the mariners could not take any advantage of opposition’s plight. Isfaq Ahmed got the award of Man of the match for his excellence in the match.

 Bagan is now with only 3 points in their 5 matches. They will play their next match away against defending champion Dempo on 31^st October, Friday in Goa. 

Team: Shilton (Sangram), Habibur, Vasan, Odafe,  Deepak, Masih, Marcos, Ishfaq (James Sr.), Lalkamal (Tulunga), Barreto, Baichung