Chennaiyin FC aims to seal play-off spot

As the craving for a semi-final berth intensifies, the teams salivating at that enticing prospect can ill-afford to be lax in that devout undertaking of theirs. Ever since it got access to the privileged spot that top four accords, Chennaiyin, which will host Jamshedpur FC on Sunday, has never once made that slot vacant. Its abode may be in the upmarket locale of the points table, yet Chennaiyin’s season has not been without glitches that threaten to degrade it to living in squalor. 

In the last three games, Chennaiyin strike-force could score only three goals, while its usually robust and reliable back-line conceded four. The reverse fixture between these two teams played at the height of winter had temperatures soaring to a feverish pitch when Chennaiyin manager John Gregory incurred a suspension for three matches for showing dissent. Chennaiyin came out on top that evening by a slender one-goal margin when Jeje Lalpekhlua converted a penalty. 

A win for the 2015 champion on Sunday will take it within sight of its first port of call that is the last four stage. With a difficult away tie against Kerala Blasters looming on the horizon, Chennaiyin would look to cosy up to one of the three available semi-final spots without much ado.

It will have to do so without the suspended duo of midfielder D Ganesh and winger Gregory Nelson, who have accumulated far too many yellow cards to have a say in the proceedings. Worryingly for Chennaiyin, the 26-year-old Ganesh, apart from garnering praise, has earned the wrath of the referees and this will be the second match he will miss this season after receiving his eighth yellow card in the previous match against FC Goa.

“I thought the yellow card he (Ganesh) got against Goa was senseless. He could have done without that card. He needs to learn quickly not to pick up silly bookings. He is somebody we will miss considering the great season he has had so far. That said, I will not stop him from playing his usual game and he is never afraid to go for a tackle,” said the 63-year-old Gregory.

If there was something that Gregory was readily willing to turn not just one blind eye but both to, it was the paucity of goals from striker Jeje. “I like the fact that Jeje hasn’t scored lately. That means, he is due to end that barren run soon. He had a couple of chances against Goa. He received a lot of plaudits for that crucial win and while he may not have scored, his rest of the game was first-class,” added Gregory.

His counterpart Steve Coppell said neither him nor his team would be consumed by any thoughts of exacting revenge for the melee that erupted on that misty evening in Jamshedpur. “Revenge is definitely not a factor; it’s another game in our schedule. At this stage, there is more significance to the results. Whatever happens tomorrow, our season doesn’t end. We have to play all three games. The result is significant for either side. It will be a huge fillip for either teams to get three points,” said Coppell. 

Both the managers have been charitable in their outlook on the opposing teams but expect the hostilities to resume after a night of ceasefire.