Mumbai City from first six games didn't turn up, concedes Des Buckingham

The Islanders suffered a defeat for the second time this season.

Mumbai City FC faltered in keeping their unbeaten and winning streak, as Kerala Blasters inflicted a 3-0 loss on them. Des Buckingham's side fell behind in the 27th minute after Jorge Diaz floated the ball in towards Sahal, who finished brilliantly. Kerala's second goal came via an Alvaro Vazquez strike from the edge of the box. Mourtada Fall's silly dismissal in the 50th minute laid the premise for Diaz to convert a penalty. He stepped up flawlessly to score Kerala's third of the night and piled more misery onto the 10 men of Mumbai.

Des Buckingham looked frustrated with his side's inability to cope with the Blasters' aggressiveness. The 36-year-old English coach articulated his thoughts on the loss in the post-match conference: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhzua1T-sOM

Where game was lost in tactical sense

Buckingham was disappointed at how things failed to come together for his team, as they failed to score for the first time this season. He congratulated Kerala Blasters for their performance. However, he was displeased to be on the losing end.

"Oh, I think tactically it was lost (because) we just didn't play. I've been very happy with how we played in the first six games, even the game we lost against Hyderabad. Tonight it just hasn't worked. So well done to Kerala Blasters firstly, on the result and the win. But, we didn't get going at all, " lamented the head coach.

Whether it would be fair to say Kerala gave him a taste of his own medicine

Kerala Blasters played some fluid attacking football to restrict Mumbai from getting on the scoresheet as well and get three goals for themselves. Des Buckingham, however, refused to see it that way.

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"In what way? You know they attacked just well and as I said we didn't quite get into our stride in the first half. Then the goals straight after the start of the second half kind of kills it off a little bit. So, you know, then to lose a man, to take a hit through the penalty, it's very difficult to try and get yourself back into the game," responded Buckingham.

If not conceding from open play after Fall's dismissal was a small positive in tonight's game

Mumbai City conceded two goals from open play, but Diaz turned in Kerala's third of the night through a penalty. Asked whether not conceding from open play was a bright spot in today's loss, the head coach replied in earnest.

"Yes, the way the players adapted to three at the back. To play with 10 men, in the state of a game like that, they played well. But again, we cannot get ourselves in a position where... we need to be better. Like I said, I was very happy with the first six games and even the loss to Hyderabad where we lost 3-1. We actually played very well in there, but it hasn't quite worked, (it) hasn't quite clicked. We will make sure we recover and bounce back very quickly for the next one," assured the coach.

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How he intends to pick the boys up for the next game

Mumbai have a considerable amount of time to work on getting back to winning ways, as their next game is a week away. Buckingham was positive that they can restart well as he expressed his faith in his team and their mentality.

"They won't need picking up. As a group of players, they are very motivated to do as well as we can. This is football, this happens sometimes. We can't take it too bad. You know, we've got eight days to turn around. We'll get it right. It's important we come back in the next game and really respond well, " Des Buckingham asserted.

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