CHENNAI: As the half-time whistle was blown in Saturday’s goalless draw between Chennaiyin FC and Kerala Blasters, the visiting team seemed like the ones who needed that break. Chennaiyin were looking likely to score and had continued to probe Kerala’s defence. While Kerala Blasters fans may have produced most of the noise from the stands at instances, the players in the first half could not really get going as most of the play in the half took place in Kerala’s defence.
But in the second half, the Blasters looked a better side. Winning second balls and creating half chances, they started to believe. Head coach Ashley Westwood revealed what he told his players in the dressing room. “I told them that we would get better in the second half and they (Chennaiyin) wouldn't,” he said in the post-match press conference on Saturday.
He also challenged Kerala’s wingers Mohammed Sanan and Kourou Singh to get past the opposition full-backs. “You challenge Sanu (Sanan), you challenge Korou, I told them, let's really ask (the opposition full-back) some questions and see if we can produce. And that's what we said at the end, so then we take them off and drop some fresh legs like Vibin (Mohanan) and Sree (Kuttan) we end up bringing Momo (Yansane) as well, so we made positive substitutions,” he said.
And five minutes into the second half, Kerala Blasters were given a spot-kick. Although it came against the run of play, it came at a time when the visitors started probing the opposition. But Uruguayan midfielder Adrian Luna missed the spot kick. "We're okay with the point. We're disappointed we didn't win. Of course, you're always going to be disappointed if you have an opportunity of a penalty. Of course, it's easier and obvious to say if we score, we win. We're four games in, we're we're just coming up to our season not even a month yet of training with 14 new players, new staff, it's going to take a while. So now we can have a little bit of rest, and then some real hard work," he said.
But the English coach felt the Indian attackers at his disposal could do better. “The boys are getting it in good areas but they're not producing in the vital moments. We just have to have more time. We'll practice and get more game sharpness, more information, more repetition and consistency. Sanu produced a little bit at home. Today (against Chennaiyin), he didn't really get the better of his full back too much. Korou got in areas but the final thing just wasn't quite there for him,” he said.