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A depleted Mohammedan Sporting, placed second from the bottom with just seven points, are desperate to turn things around in the second leg. The Kolkata outfit, who play a home match away from home, take on a spirited JCT, Phagwara in a 10th round match in Mumbai at the Cooperage ground on Wednesday.

Mohammedans, whose only win in the first leg was against the Punjab side, commence the second round minus several key players. Defenders Madhab Kumar Das and Nigerian Eric Bolwe Mputu, both with two bookings miss the match. Striker Bijen Singh, who broke his collar bone during training last week has been ruled out along with Kalia Koluthunga and Surojit Roy.

However, Mohammedan Sporting coach Biswajit Bhattacharjee was cool and composed as the team practiced on the eve of the match. "We are not too concerned about playing our home match at a neutral venue," said Bhattacharjee. "Playing any where in India is as good as a home match."

He was also not worried about missing some regular members. "All the players are equally good and I'm confident that they will carry out their responsibilities to ensure that we win all the three points, if not at least one," he said.

In contrast, JCT coach Sukhwinder Singh has no such worries and says that if things go according to plans his team could emerge winners. "The boys have played well right through and even dominated some crucial matches, which we ultimately lost because of a couple of slip ups at the back," he said.

'In the last match, against Mahindra United, we conceded an early goal, but fought back to take the lead. But, once again we let the advantage slip and ended on the losing side."

JCT have the advantage of playing at full strength and Sukhwinder is not likely to make changes to the team, which lost narrowly to Mahindras, in Goa on March 24.

Email author: gordon.dcosta@hindustantimes.com