Five talking points from Chennai’s frustrating stalemate with Kerala Blasters

4. Kerala Blasters still have a chance

John Gregory said in the pre-match press conference Chennai could still get back into the top-four reckoning with three consecutive wins in December, but Kerala Blasters look likelier of the two to make it this time out.

They have drawn five games and have the fifth best defensive record in the league and are only two wins behind fourth-placed Jamshedpur. That said, they also have the fifth worst attack in the competition, scoring just 10 goals in nine games; only ATK, Mumbai City and the two bottom clubs have scored fewer goals.

Their making the playoffs looks a Herculean task now, but coach David James must be confident of pulling off a shock qualification having already done that in his first tenure at the club in 2014. However, he must figure out his best starting eleven as he has made several questionable changes, like dropping Sandesh Jhingan here in Chennai.

Edited by Moderator -PJ