Goal-shy NorthEast to face win-hungry Mumbai City

Guwahati (Assam) [India], December 19 (ANI): Having picked up just four points from their opening five games in the fourth season of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL), NorthEast United FC are struggling in the ninth position.?

Joao Carlos Pires de Deus led-side ha?s ?found it difficult to breach the opposition defence and score goals.

Their opponents for tomorrow's game at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Mumbai City FC, are facing nothing of that sort.

The Alexandre Guimaraes-led side will, in fact, be yearning to relaunch their bid, to overtake local rivals FC Pune City and occupy a spot in the top four of the table.

?While talking to reporters on Tuesday, Joao acknowledged that his team needs to score more goals. But the Portuguese emphasised that "it's too early" to predict which four teams would qualify at the end of the season.

"We have played five games, but no one wins or loses the league after that many games. This is a different type of competition.

Even the team that finishes at the top of the table doesn't win the league. But, of course, we have to win more games and score more goals," the Portuguese coach said?.?

N?orthEast United FC? will be without their first choice goalkeeper T.P Rehenesh after he received a direct red card in their last game against Kerala Blasters. But more worryingly for him, it seems that he has lost Joao's confidence.

?When asked about his choice of goalkeeper for Wednesday's game, Joao said,? ?"When we started the season, we had three keepers. Obviously TP (Rehenesh) played the first five because he was our first-choice goalkeeper. Ravi Kumar will replace him for the time being."

M?umbai City FC will also be without midfielder Sehnaj Singh. The 24-year-old is serving a one-game suspension after having picked up his fourth yellow card of the season.

?The Costa Rican coach Guimaraes, however, refused to reveal who will replace? Sehnaj for the game. "It's a long night. I still have to think about that," he said.

Having played their last game just three days ago, the Costa Rican coach did talk about their long travels and tough competition this season.

"We played our last game last Sunday and we had to travel immediately for our next game. But it's the same with all the teams and I'm looking forward to playing on this (Guwahati) pitch which is one of the best in the league", said Guimaraes. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI