IMPHAL: Previous form won’t have any effect when Mohammedan Sporting Club face TRAU FC in an 2018/19 Hero 2nd Division League Preliminary Round Group C encounter at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal on Thursday, kick-off 2 pm.

This is the view of Mohammedan SC Technical Director Raghunath Nandy, who believes TRAU will approach this match like wounded tigers, eager to make up for the recent defeats they have suffered at their own backyard.

After a rip roaring start to the campaign TRAU lost two back to back home games. They were first beaten 3-2 by Rainbow Athletic Club before suffering a 2-0 defeat against Chhinga Veng FC that dented their final round hopes.

Alluding to those two defeats, Nandy said those matches gave him a clear indication of what his side will be up against on the morrow, warning that they could find themselves facing side which is desperate for a win in pursuit of keeping final round round hopes alive.

“It becomes very important not to depend on their past performances because they are going to come with a different game plan. We have high respect for the quality they have in their squad,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mohammedan SC themselves are in a spot of bother as they only have 4 points from 4 games and anything less than three points means their chances of making it to the final round considerably lessened.

Nandy said that it is up to his players to go out there and ensure that they give their best performance and fight for a victory against TRAU.

“It’s a mental thing where players will have to now go out there and give it whatever they have got to win the match. We put ourselves here and we have to take ourselves out. We want to be in the top eight. We need to aim high,” Nandy added.