SC East Bengal defender Tomislav Mrcela believes that his team will score a lot of goals from set-pieces this season, but at the same time, he urged them to defend these situations better.

The Red and Gold Brigade shared points in their opening match of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2021-22 season against Jamshedpur FC, with both side scoring from set-pieces in a 1-1 draw.

“Yeah, of course we were working on every part of the game and the set-pieces are certainly something we can hurt other teams with, but unfortunately, they hurt us on the set-piece today. Also, we need to work defensively also on the set pieces. We (also) gave them in the last minute a good chance for them to win the game,” said Mrcela, during the post-match interview.

“So we need to be more focused, show more courage in those situations. And I'm sure we're going to score a lot of goals from set pieces, but as well, we need to defend them because you win the games in both boxes,” added the Australian footballer.

Jamshedpur FC had a better start to their campaign than the previous season, but they would be disappointed not to score the winner in the second half, after creating ample opportunities. However, the Red Miners’ coach Owen Coyle lauded the efforts of his boys and feels they need to get the right balance in the team, going forward.

“It's getting that balance right. But having Pete (Hartley) and other wonderful players, equally Greg Stewart, you've seen in the 20 minutes, he is a little bit of a feisty, but he's such a wonderfully talented player. And Jordan Murray  again, with just two days training,” stated Coyle.

“So we're going to, you know, we are certainly going to have a good, I would suggest a solid base. We have to just get the balance right, but they are wonderful players and great to work with. And as I say, we're looking forward to the coming games” he added.

Croatian forward Antonio Perosevic, who had an impressive ISL debut for SC East Bengal and also bagged the Hero of the Match award, believes that the team is not fully ready, but they are growing along the way.

“I don’t know, we are growing very much,  part of our game. We will see because we’ve had some difficult periods in our preparation. And then with the hotel, with a pitch and we are not ready 100%, but with time, it will work for us. And I hope we will be good the next day,” said Perosevic, after the 1-1 draw.

SC East Bengal will be up against arch-rivals ATK Mohun Bagan in the much-awaited Kolkata Derby on November 27, at the same venue. Meanwhile, Jamshedpur FC will lock horns with a well set FC Goa side, next Friday evening, at the GMC Athletic Stadium, in Bambolim.