Indian Super League Preview: Herbert seeks home comforts, Garcia urges Kolkata focus

Ricki Herbert implored his NorthEast United side to make the most of home advantage as they seek a play-off boost against Delhi Dynamos.

The Guwahati-based franchise welcome bottom-of-the-table Delhi to the Indira Gandhi Stadium on Monday seeking a swift response to their 1-0 loss at high-fliers Atletico de Kolkata last week.

Spanish forward Luis Garcia scored the only goal of the game in that match and NorthEast coach Herbert blamed a defensive lapse from his team for the narrow loss.

Despite the setback, NorthEast remain just two points adrift of fourth place and with the clash against Delhi representing the first of back-to-back matches on their own turf, Herbert is desperate for some home comforts.

“Unfortunately, the goal that we gave away was a sloppy goal, a giveaway, and I didn’t really see Kolkata coming and scoring any,” he said.

“We’ll get a couple of home games now and it’s pretty crucial for us to get back the initiative and make an impact.”

Kolkata sit second after their scrappy win and they can edge ever nearer to confirming their place in the top four in Friday’s visit to third-placed Kerala Blasters.

Despite Kolkata’s promising position, Garcia urged the team not to get above their station and focus their energies on Kerala.

“Our target is to win our next match,” he said.

“Obviously, our main target is to reach the final, but we will try to win our next game first, that will probably take us closer to the points we target.”

Top of the table Chennaiyin inflicted a 3-1 defeat on Pune City last week and Marco Materazzi’s men will hope for more of the same when they hit the road to face Mumbai City on Sunday.

Pune are also on their travels and will look to return to winning ways when face struggling Goa on Saturday.