Mumbai City FC head coach Peter Reid said that a draw was a fair result on the night after his side held NorthEast United FC 1-1 in Guwahati on Wednesday and that the game was a reflection of their entire Hero Indian Super League (ISL) season.“It was an exciting game, played at a good pace. Both teams created opportunities and could have won it, but as I keep saying, we were not good enough. That has been the story of our season. We cannot continue to keep citing the absence of (André) Moritz and (Nicolas) Anelka as the reason for our poor performances. However, the boys have really worked hard and have tried their best. I will not fault them for effort,” Reid declared at the post-match press conference. The Englishman gave a ringing endorsement to the quality of the ISL and was complimentary about the manner in which the tournament was organised. “I think the league has been magnificent. Just look at the crowds that have come in and the amount of coverage that it has received. It pleases me to know that we have been a part of it. We would have loved to qualify for the semifinals but it was not to be. But what was great to see was that the fight for the semifinal spots has gone into the last day of the league phase,” he observed.Reid showered praise on Raju Gaikwad who essayed an unfamiliar role in the defensive midfield position today. “I thought he was outstanding. I think that this is his best position,” the former England international opined. “He was apprehensive about playing there but I egged him on. His long passing ability and positioning was good today. If he plays more games in that position, I think he will surely prosper,” said Reid.The former Everton man however refused to comment on the penalty incident and stated, “When I was managing in England, I have lost a few thousand pounds by commenting on the referee. I am a poor man so I will not do so now. But overall, the refereeing has been good and we should sometimes empathise with them because it is a very tough job,” he said.Mumbai City’s assistant coach Steve Darby, who also attended the post-match press conference, said that the ISL had been a fantastic experience: “It has been wonderful. I am sure that it has revolutionised football in India forever. Some of the boys in the team can go on to have a wonderful career if they put their heads down and work hard. I have worked with Peter (Reid) before in Thailand, but this journey was different and wonderful.”
