ISL 2017, Match 7: Kerala Blasters vs Jamshedpur FC, talking points

#4 Good return for former Blasters

Steve Coppell received a warm welcome from the Kerala fans. (Photo: ISL)

Coppell. Belfort. Mehtab - all former Blasters returned to the cauldron that is Kochi with their new side. It was a second straight goalless draw and a second away point for Jamshedpur. With two away games to start their campaign, perhaps Coppell was happy with the two points and with no losses.

All three former Blasters enjoyed a good return to Kerala. Coppell probably got the point he wanted. Belfort worked tirelessly all night, as he used to do for the Blasters. He showed great commitment tracking back as well, often playing the role of an auxiliary left-back as Jamshedpur fell back and got numbers behind the ball. Mehtab did the dirty work that his coach and teammates asked of him, putting enough pressure on the Blasters' most creative players and plugging holes in midfield.

They almost stole the game too towards the end, the best chance of the night falling to them. With regulation time almost done, Belfort made a superb contact in the box with a header off Trindade Goncalves's cross that needed Rachubka's intervention to keep it out.

All in all, it was a good return for the former Blasters as they were possibly the happier side at the end of 90 minutes.