BFC seek winning start to New year

Bengaluru: FC will look to end a disappointing run of form at home and kick off on the best note possible — with a win against resurgent ATK that could provisionally put them atop the league standings, here on Sunday.

After consecutive home losses against early pace-setters Chennaiyin FC and Jamshedpur FC, the Blues picked themselves up with a 3-1 victory over Kerala Blasters to close 2017 on a positive note. Now, they’re back to remedy the inconsistencies at The Fortress against Teddy Sheringham’s side who’ve only lost once on the road thus far.

Goals conceded in the dying minutes were the bane of Bengaluru in the two previous home games, and coach Albert Roca doesn’t want to make a habit of losing games late on.

“We lost games in the last few minutes previously and those were good lessons for us. We have to look forward and not make the same mistakes,” Roca said.

In-form striker Robbie Keane is travelling with the side and will need to fire on all cylinders to push seventh-placed ATK up the table, whilst third-placed BFC will look to punish another bottom-half side in order to pile the pressure on Chennaiyin FC.