Churchill Bros keen to set the wrong right in key clash against Real Kashmir

Panaji: It’s crowded at the top of the I-League table.
There’s Namdhari FC right on top with 21 points from 11 matches, while Churchill Brothers FC and Gokulam Kerala are not far behind, with just two points separating them. Inter Kashi are a win away from catching-up with the top three.
A win here, and a loss elsewhere, can upset calculations. Nobody knows this better than Churchill whose unexpected loss against Rajasthan United in the previous game pegged them back. Now they want to climb up the ladder and return to the top of the table as they face Real Kashmir FC in a crucial I-League clash at the panchayat ground in Raia on Thursday.
“We are ready to come back stronger,” Churchill coach Dimitris Dimitriou told TOI on Wednesday. “It’s another final for us. We will correct last Saturday's mistake and make our supporters, fans, management, and above all, our owner Churchill Alemao happy.”
Forward Stendly Fernandes said the team is “a bit upset” with the setback. “We did not perform at all. But we came back (home), corrected our mistakes and now we are ready for the next challenge,” he said.
Significantly, Churchill will play eight of the remaining 12 games at home.
Dimitriou said playing at home is like being inside your own cave. “You have to be the boss, you have to dominate,” he said.
They’ve won two of the three games at home quite convincingly. The only setback was against Namdhari, a result that turned the table on its head.
“When you play at home it means you have to play as hard as you can, as strong as you can, because you are in your own cave. In this league, there are no easy games at home or away. You can see that from the results; bottom teams are winning against those at the top, and vice versa. I am glad to be part of this league. I am happy to be coaching. From what people tell me, it's one of the most competitive leagues that we've had in the last (few) years,” said Dimitriou.
Real Kashmir are fifth on the table with 16 points from 10 matches. A win against Churchill will help them move to second on the table.
“This is a crucial match for us because it can decide our important position (on the table). Churchill has been playing really good football. I think, off late, they have some hiccups, like in a couple of matches they didn't do well, but they are a good team,” said coach Ishfaq Ahmed.
Significantly, though, Real Kashmir have not won any of the three games they’ve played away from home (two losses and a draw), while being strong at home with four wins and three draws.