ISL 2015: Kerala Blasters v Chennaiyin FC Preview, Live stream & TV channel info, Team News, Prediction

Having relieved head coach Peter Taylor of his duties, Kerala Blasters will seek to inject new life into their ISL campaign, as they look to make up some lost ground on the other teams in the league. With Trevor Morgan taking up first team duties, the Blasters welcome Chennaiyin FC to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, where a raucous atmosphere is guaranteed.

Chennaiyin come into the game after a week’s rest. They put on a convincing display last time in a 2-1 victory over FC Pune City, and come into the game reasonably high on confidence. But as assistant coach Vivek Nagul mentioned in the pre-match press conference, “We are playing away from home, and they will have fantastic support. So it will be a tough game.”

Morgan, on his part, seemed upbeat. “There will be something different tomorrow but what that is I cannot say at the moment.” The Englishman believes that Kerala have the ability to turn a corner, and that it was a matter of getting one win under the belt.

Kick Off and Live Telecast

â??Channel: Star Sports 2, Star Sports HD 2, Asianet Movies (Malayalam)

Live Stream: starsports.com

Date and Time: Saturday, 31st October 2015 – 1900 IST

Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi

Team News

With Morgan promising something different, Kerala could well revert to a back four – a system that served them well through last season. Also, Spanish midfielder Josu could be given a start, to pull the strings in attack. Morgan was concerned about what Kerala have offered going forward, and will look to the little Spaniard to provide the spark. With Mohammad Rafi in reasonable goalscoring form, we could see Sanchez Watt and CK Vineeth operating from the wider positions, to provide Rafi with chances.

Chennaiyin have largely depended on John Stiven Mendoza and Elano for providing them the goals, but Nagul insisted that that would not be an issue. But, the influence the two South Americans have on Chennaiyin cannot be understated. They have, between them, scored 8 of the 10 goals that Chennaiyin have scored so far. On a positive note for Chennaiyin though, the Indian players in the team, like Jayesh Rane and Thoi Singh have contributed immensely and added to the threat for oppositions.

The rearguard seemed solid for Chennaiyin against Pune, with Bernard Mendy and Mailson Alves being ably supported by the experienced Indian full backs, Mehrajuddin Wadoo and Dhanachandra Singh.

Probable Starting XIs

Kerala Blasters: Stephen Bywater, Sandhesh Jhingan, Peter Ramage, Bruno Perone, Rahul Bheke, Shankar Sampangiraj, Joao Coimbra, Josu, Sanchez Watt, CK Vineeth, Mohammad Rafi

Chennaiyin FC: Karanjit Singh, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Mailson Alves, Bernard Mendy, Dhanachandra Singh, Raphael Augusto, Manuele Blasi, Thoi Singh, Jayesh Rane, Elano Blumer, John Stiven Mendoza

Kerala Blasters vs Chennaiyin FC: Probable Starting XIs

Key Battles

Peter Ramage vs Mendoza

Two South Americans have been making merry for Chennaiyin, as they resurrected their campaign after a sluggish start. Mendoza possesses menacing pace, and Elano’s eye for a pass complements that beuatifully. The Kerala defemse – marshalled by Peter Ramage – must ensure that there is no space left in behind for Mendoza to run into.

One striking feature of Mendoza’s play is his ability to time his runs perfectly, which leaves teams trying to play the offside trap red-faced. Kerala cannot afford any slip-ups as they are sure to be pounced upon.

Raphael Augusto vs Josu

The little Spaniard will be critical to they way Kerala perform. Morgan has said that Kerala’s resurrection of their campaign can stem only from them doing better going forward. With Sanchez Watt providing the ability to run in behind, Josu’s passing will be crucial.

On the other side, Augusto has gone rather unnoticed but the burly Brazilian has done well for Chennaiyin. Amidst the flair players like Elano, Mendoza and Jayesh, Augusto has ensured that Chennaiyin are stable and not losing their shape, and he has shown that he is not wary of bombing forward, either.

Prediction

The tournament is at a stage for Kerala, where they simply have to win. They are six points off the top four, and cannot afford to fall further behind. They will have the backing of the 60000+ in Kochi, but will be up against a well-drilled Chennaiyin, who will look to establish their presence among the frontrunners. An open, fre-flowing game ensues.

Kerala Blasters 1-2 Chennaiyin FC