ISL 2015: Three reasons why Kerala will hold Pune to a draw tonight

Prediction

Kerala Blasters 1-1 FC Pune City

1. Pune are terrible travelers

FC Pune City might be comfortably placed at the top of the points table currently, but it cannot be overlooked that they have played five out of the seven matches at home. In fact they have managed just one point in the two matches they have played on the road so far.

Since the inaugural season Pune have had a poor record on the road with just onefrom their last nine away matches. To add spice to the situation, the next five of their six games are away fixtures.

2. Tactically Kerala are better equipped to deal with Pune this time

The defensive and ineffective 5-3-2 formation has departed with Peter Taylor from the Kerala camp. In their last match they deployed an attack minded 4-3-3 formation and that could work against Pune as well.

In the match between these two teams last month, when Pune won 3-2 at home, Kerala struggled to deal with Nicky Shorey down the left wing as right back Rahul Bheke was outnumbered on the flank. But now with this 4-3-3 formation, Bheke will have someone like Bruno Perone, who played in the midfield against Chennai, to cover for him while dealing with Shorey.

3. Mohammad Rafi led attacking triumvirate

Kerala struggled to score goals last season, and that struggle persisted at the start of this campaign as well. Last season they were mostly dependent on the brilliance of Iain Hume, on their way to the final, and now Mohammad Rafi has taken up that role.

The 33-year-old forward has contributed in five of the eight goals Kerala have scored so far – four goals and one assist. Now with the pace of Sanchez Watt and hold-up play of Chris Dagnall around him, Kerala look a different team going forward. It seems only a matter of time before this attacking triumvirate start to win games for the Blasters.