Chennaiyin FC (CFC) will be desperate to register their first home win of the season when they host Hyderabad FC (HFC) in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Wednesday, in which will be manager Owen Coyle’s 50th match in charge of the club in the championship.
Coyle’s men are without a win in four games, including three consecutive defeats since the international break last month. Their opponent, Hyderabad FC, are also on a three-match losing streak as they return to the ground where they picked up their only win last season.
Despite being joint-leader with NorthEast United FC in terms of chances created (127), CFC only have 16 goals to show for it. He also leads the league in total shots (124) made so far.
Speaking about their 0-2 defeat against East Bengal in their previous match, Coyle regretted his team’s missed chances and remarked that their reaction to the first goal was simply not good enough.
“Thank you to East Bengal as they have given us immense respect. They left everyone behind the ball, hoping for a quick counter-attack and by not taking our chances we kind of played into their hands,” Coyle said at the conference. pre-match press.
To kick off his home campaign, Coyle could bring the team’s top scorer this season, Wilmar Jordan Gil, back into the starting lineup for more sharpness in front of goal, with Irfan Yadwad and Farukh Choudhary providing support on the wings .
Scottish midfielder Connor Shields, dubbed ‘the best mover in the league’ by his manager, has been CFC’s main chance-creating tool this season and is expected to continue his midfield role alongside Lalrinliana Hnamte.
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Defensive struggles have been a concern for the home side who have managed to keep just one clean sheet in the 11 matches so far, in the 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture at Hyderabad.
“The biggest problem for us is defensively, from front to back, we have to make sure we don’t give away easy goals,” Coyle said.
Despite the return of right-back Ankit Mukherjee from injury, Coyle is expected to stick with a back four led by captain Ryan Edwards to provide some continuity.
HFC will be slightly motivated by the fact that their only wins in the current season have both come away, against Mohammedan SC and Kerala Blasters FC. However, Thangboi Singto’s men have had leaks in defense so far and have conceded the second most goals (19), one behind Jamshedpur.
FILE: Despite right-back Ankit Mukherjee (left) returning from injury, Coyle is expected to stick with a back four led by captain Ryan Edwards to provide some continuity. | Photo credit: RAGU R
FILE: Despite right-back Ankit Mukherjee (left) returning from injury, Coyle is expected to stick with a back four led by captain Ryan Edwards to provide some continuity. | Photo credit: RAGU R
With captain Alex Saji missing HFC’s 0-2 defeat to FC Goa in the previous matchweek, Singto may be forced to field a central partnership of new Serbian signing Stefan Šapić alongside the omnipresent Muhammed Rafi.
Brazilian Allan de Souza Miranda, who is HFC’s top scorer with two goals in nine games this season, will likely feature as the sole striker, with Abdul Rabeeh Anjukandan, Ramhlunchhunga and Cy Goddard alongside him.
The duo of Ayush Adhikari and Andrei Alba could sit deep, helping in defense while handing possession of the ball to their team.
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“This time they have very talented young Indians. Last year they were probably forced to give these boys an opportunity. But now it’s a really good catchment area and we respect them a lot,” Coyle said.
With just three points separating ninth-placed CFC from the playoff spot, Coyle stressed that CFC’s poor run this season is “part of the process”.
“There will always be races and periods where you lose matches. It’s not pleasant, it’s a horrible feeling. No one does more harm than us, I can assure you, but we are the ones who can change things,” he concluded.
