Ashley Westood elated after the win of Kerala Blasters against Mohammedan SC
Kerala Blasters are on a three-game winning streak
Kerala Blasters FC continued their strong end to the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 season with an impressive 3-1 comeback win against Mohammedan SC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on the 10th og May, 2026, extending their unbeaten run to five matches and securing back-to-back victories in the league.
Despite dominating large phases of the opening half, the Kerala Blasters found themselves trailing against the run of play after Mahitosh Roy produced a stunning long-range strike in the 42nd minute to put the visitors ahead. But the response from the home side was immediate as just two minutes later, Kevin Yoke threaded a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Franchu, who calmly slotted past Padam Chettri to restore parity before half-time.
The Blasters returned after the break with even greater intent and control. Their attacking pressure finally paid off in the 59th minute when Yoke delivered another dangerous ball into the box, allowing Victor Bertomeu to rise highest and head home Kerala Blasters second goal of the night.
With confidence flowing through the side and the Yellow Army behind them, the hosts continued to dictate proceedings. The third goal arrived in the 74th minute, courtesy of a brilliant move by local forward Sreekuttan MS, who capped off a brilliant move by arriving unmarked at the far post to guide Francu’s cross into the net and put the result beyond doubt.
Following the victory, Kerala Blasters FC head coach Ashley Westwood addressed the media. Here is a detailed report on the post-match press conference of the match between Kerala Blasters FC and Mohammedan SC.
Thoughts on the game
After the victory, Ashley Westwood was asked for his initial thoughts on the match, to which he expressed great satisfaction that the team had finally scored three goals from open play. He praised the players’ character for coming from behind and executing the game plan to create numerous chances, including a deserving goal for the returning Sree.
Acknowledging their impressive five-game unbeaten run, he emphasised the importance of staying focused for the final match and expressed his hope for an even bigger crowd in the stadium.
“No, just nice to obviously get a win, three goals from open play, which of course, you know, before we came was always the problem. Scoring three goals, all from set pieces. So really nice to get three goals, pleased for Sree to come on and score after being injured, nice for him. But it was always going to be a tricky game. You know, they scored first, of course. So we showed good character to come back. But, you know, we played well today. I was always a little bit worried that we’d take our foot off the gas. You know, people start to enjoy the victories and not stay focused, but credit to the players.“
“They showed some good spirits of character to come back. But they also implemented the game plan, what we wanted, moved the ball quickly, got the pitch nice and big, and we created lots and lots of chances. Nihal had a fantastic chance, and Sree had another really good chance. We should have definitely had a penalty, and it could have been a lot more comfortable.”
“But three goals at home, you’ve got to be pleased. And of course, you know, four victories now out of the last five and a draw, puts us, you know, around about top of the league since I came here. So all’s well, but it’s not finished. We’ve got one more game to go, and we’re doing everything we can to put another good performance on. And it’s nice to see a few more fans in the stadium, hopefully we can get even more.“
What was in the gaffer’s mind when Blasters conceded the opener
When asked about what was on the mind of the gaffer when Kerala Blasters conceded late in the first half, Ashley replied that his main focus was keeping the team grounded. He urged them to trust the game plan and maintain their self-belief, confident that their continued pressure and strong desire would ultimately secure the victory for the fans.
“No, just it felt like one of those games, you know, just before their goal, which, to be fair to the lad, is a really good strike. But, you know, it’s a kind of a goal out of nothing. It’s 25, 30 yards. It goes almost to the top corner of the post. That happens in football, but we missed a fantastic chance just before that. We’d had all the pressure, we’d had all the crosses, we’d had all the opportunities. And we’ve all been in football long enough to see sometimes those games you lose. So it was a case of just sticking to what we were doing, believing in ourselves.” Ashley Westwood stated.
“That’s what I said to the players at halftime, just keep doing what we’re doing. Don’t start changing ideas or, you know, strategies. Don’t start kicking the ball long. Don’t start lumping it. Just keep doing what you’re doing. We’ll get more chances, and we’ll win the game. And thankfully, we did. And, you know, that’s down to desire from the players and, you know, a good attitude to get the victory for the fans.“
Is Ashley satisfied with the attacking unit?
Kerala Blasters FC scored three goals against Mohammedan and all of them were from open play. However, they could have scored a couple more goals if luck had favoured them in the final third. When asked whether he was satisfied with the team’s attacking unit, which once used to struggle, Ashley Westwood replied;
“Obviously, we can score more goals, we can convert more chances. But as long as we’re creating them. Old rubbish cliche, if you like, that I don’t like to do. But as long as the chances are there, that means we’re doing something right. We can’t guarantee to score every time. You know, Victor’s in good form now. I think he scored three and four.“
“Obviously, like I mentioned, Sree comes off the bench. Franchu’s now scored again. He looked like a threat today. You know, we’ve hit the post. We’ve done everything we can. You know, we can’t be disappointed with scoring three goals. Of course, we’d like more. We’d like it to be more comfortable. But as long as we’re dominating possession, we’re dominating control, and we’re creating chances, then you have to be happy.”
What was the missing piece at Blasters?
“It’s just, you can’t single out and say, look at yourself and try and claim credit. Sometimes you go to clubs, and it clicks, and you draw on your experience. I’ve been in many places now, Bangalore, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Roundglass, back to here. I’ve coached over 15, 16 years now, so I’ve got a little bit of experience, and you just try and draw on that, and hopefully it works.”
“Give the players confidence. I was always confident on turning it around, otherwise I wouldn’t have taken it. And then it’s just a case of working as hard as you can. Try and draw on a bit of team spirit, try and get some togetherness, and try and demand some standards, and stick to them myself first. Always look at yourself, and then hopefully people follow, and just try and be a bit of a leader. Thankfully, it’s working well.”
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Niranjan R Prabhu is an Economics student from Kochi with an enduring passion for Indian football, especially as a devoted Kerala Blasters FC fan — a club he considers part of his life. Beyond the game, he writes on culture, Indian economic development, and sustainability, always eager to explore ideas in depth. His days are a balancing act between college, writing, and travel.