Ashley Westwood did not mince words after Kerala Blasters’ 1-1 draw with NorthEast United FC on Wednesday.

“Obviously very, very disappointed with the result,” the new coach said at the end of the keenly fought ISL match on the Vishu day. “When you get chances, as good as we had, of course you have to score, and the game is finished and it is over. The longer it goes on at 1-0, they are always going to keep pushing and pushing the opposition and they are going to get chances at this level.”

And that is what happened. The visitors found the equaliser with just a couple of minutes remaining in the normal time.

Westwood, who assumed charge only a fortnight ago midway through a frustrating campaign for Blasters, was hoping his boys would add another three points, after the away victory against Bengaluru FC.

That was, in fact, the last away game for Blasters. All its remaining matches are at home. It will take on Jamshedpur FC on Saturday.

The Blasters remain second from bottom, and therefore still face relegation threat alongside Mohammedan Sporting, which has lost all its seven matches. The two struggling sides come face to face on May 10.

Given the improvement the Blasters have shown under Westwood, and the way the team has become stronger with the additions of Ndiaye Fallou, Karim Benarif and Franchu, there is reason to hope that they could improve the standing before the truncated season is over. But, they need to win games.

Published on Apr 16, 2026