Going into the game, it was blatantly evident that Steve Coppell had done his homework well. Knowing that Chhetri and Miku both have the habit of coming in from the left flank, most of Bengaluru’s attacks tend to start from the right where Udanta has the capability to torment defences with his pace and skill. Coppell, who started the game with a true 4-3-3, ensured that it was Jerry, who was playing in the front three, cut off any option of switching the play to the left for Subhasish Bose as the Bikey and Shouvik were occupied with Bengaluru’s main goal threats. 

That completely eliminated the creation of any sort of real chance for the hosts. Apart from a few crosses, it was mostly mundane in the attacking third. The only real chance that Bengaluru had in the first half came when Shouvik decided to go on a forward foray, only to lose the ball. As the ball reached Erik Paartalu, 40 yards from the Jamshedpur goal, the Australian for once couldn’t find his bearings and failed to pick up a wide open Miku on the left flank. 

Bengaluru for once in the tournament looked lost for ideas as any sort of momentum they built came to an abrupt end in the final third. With the four centre-backs and three midfield players clogging up the zone in-front of the box, there was no way they would have been able to pierce the defence through the middle. It was just Udanta who was trying to get to the byline and make something happen by dragging at least one centre-back, usually Tiri, out of position and putting crosses in. Bengaluru have been a threat all season from corners but despite having almost 70% of the possession, the hosts could only manage two corners in the first 45. 

There could only be one today and he wasn’t even on the pitch. While some fans might not be happy with Coppell’s tactics, there is no disputing that he knows how to get results. After guiding an underwhelming Kerala to the final last year, he looks to be doing the same with Jamshedpur. In the six games, four away from home, that the Men of Steel have played, they have conceded just two goals and scored two. Yet they now sit just two points of second-placed Bengaluru in fifth place with a game in hand.