Tough game is on card between East Bengal and Mahindra United

Kolkata, Nov 6 (UNI) Realising their poor standings at halfway of first leg, the Indian League's first match on seventh round promises an interesting game when East Bengal meet Mahindra United at Yuba Bharati Krirangan here tomorrow.

Coach Derrick Pereira this evening took his boys for a practice session at Salt Lake must be thinking what went wrong with previous game at YBK when Mohameddan Sporting defeated them by a lone goal.

Durand Cup winners are having lean patch in the 12-team national league having garnered only six points from as many plays and placed almost at bottom. Their wins against JCT and Vasco kept them above three promotees United SC and Md Sporting with five points each and Vasco's one at end of 6th round. They altogether scored five goals, three of them from Sushil Kumar and conceded seven goals showing how vulnerable their defence is.

Pereira said his boys are now well prepared to take EB with positive approach come what may on their way. Chidi Edeh, who got his first goal in this campaign agaisnt Vasco in Margao might make difference, though Pereira was not forthcoming on the suggestion saying all are important in positive soccer.

East Bengal, also having poor outing in the current league with eight points from six games, far from leaders Sporting Clube de Goa with 15 points at end of 6th round, are expected to take home advantage with crowd on their side.

Coach Stanley Rozario was a bit happy with a report that Yusif Yukubu was released from hospital and might feature against jeepmen.

Yukubu, who was taken off midway of first half in the drawn match against Md Sporting on Sunday following sickness and was admitted to a nursing home, has returned home yesterday.

Rozario said they would play for full three points.

EB are expected to field first eleven barring Alvito D Cunha and M Suresh.

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