Derrick Pereira wants players to improve their fitness level

Both the coaches were disappointed after a goalless draw...

After back-to-back victories in the last three matches, Churchill Brothers settled for a goalless draw against Shillong Lajong in the I-league match played at Tilak Maidan, Vasco earlier today.

Shillong coach Thangboi Singto was disappointed after his side failed to break the deadlock in the match and said, “I think Churchill Brothers played much better than us in the first half. They kept the ball, switched easily and we were having a hard time then. We were lucky not to concede in the first half but we had fair chances in the second half. Today’s game was a game of missed chances,”

Shillong are having a decent season so far and they are fourth on the table. However, they have experienced mixed form in the last five matches. The coach Singto believes that they will come back stronger after the break.

“We have 20 points now. With same number of matches, we are two points ahead of Bengaluru FC. We have played 13 matches and still have 5 matches. We have a good break now to re-energize and to re-plan everything. We need to play well. We need to come back stronger and do better in the last five matches.” Singto said.

Meanwhile, Churchill coach Derrick Pereira also attended the post-match media interaction in the same mood.

“It was a game of two halves. The first half belonged to us and the second they (Shillong) had some good chances. The goalkeeper made some good saves. We should have capitalised in the first half itself because we had good possession and good chances to score. But in the second half, the energy level of players went down,” Pereira expressed.

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The league will have a break of 20 days for the preparation of the AFC Cup Qualifier for the Indian national team. The Red Machines coach is happy for the gap and said, “We have some breathing space now. We can work on our weaknesses. Especially we need to work on our defence. We also need to improve our fitness level.”