East Bengal to take on upbeat Salgaokar

Kolkata: The memory of their nightmarish defeat to Mohun Bagan fresh in their minds, East Bengal will take on an upbeat Salgaocar in their round five I-League encounter at Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Salt Lake here tomorrow. There will be no Subhas Bhowmick who has quit following the team`s 3-5 debacle, but the tie will see India captain Bhaichung Bhutia in a new role: a mentor. Nursing a hamstring injury, Bhutia has been ruled out but the star Indian forward would give a few tips from the sidelines with assistant coach Tushar Rakshit at the helm. In fact, it was Bhutia who spoke in the pre-match media conference after their practice and said they would have to start winning to come out of the abyss they have sunk into. > "Highs and lows are part and parcel in every sportperson`s life and this happens with a team also. It was one such bad day that has left the players low on confidence. "But I believe we will fight back and start winning which will bring our confidence back. Winning now is important to remain in the championship fight," Bhutia told reporters. Asked if he would be in the coach`s chair for the match tomorrow, Bhutia said he would watch the match from the sidelines and if needed, he would give a few tips. Besides Bhutia, East Bengal will also be without their main goalkeeper Abhra Mondal who had conceded a record five goals against Mohun Bagan on October 25. Mondal is down with an injury to his hand and he would be replaced by Arup Debnath, said Bhutia. Mehrajuddin Wadoo will play in the midfield along with captain Syed Rahim Nabi while Ghanaians Abel Hammond and Yusif Yakubu will lead the attack. Coached by American Tim Hankinson, Salgaocar are full of confidence following their first I-League win that came against Sporting Clube de Goa. Nigerian striker Eneke Ikenwa who scored a brace in their win on October 25 will be their trump card, while the team also has the experience of Chandam Chitrasen, Alexandre da Silva and Luciano Sabrosa. Having made a move from Churchill Brothers, Chitrasen will lead the midfield, while former Sporting Clube de Goa player Sabrosa will lend the defence some stability. Yet to register a win in the I-League, East Bengal scored two losses and two draws to have two points in the standings. Salgaocar have four points from three matches. Bureau Report