Sports news
#ISL #Ashley #Westwood #urges #Kerala #Blasters #utilise #chances">ISL 2025-26: Ashley Westwood urges Kerala Blasters to utilise chances 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
Ashley Westwood did not mince words after Kerala Blasters’ 1-1 draw with NorthEast United FC…
Sports news
#ISL #Kerala #Blasters #eyes #home #win #season #NorthEast #United">ISL 2025-26: Kerala Blasters eyes first home win of season against NorthEast United
The atmosphere was electric inside the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi a fortnight ago, when India secured a splendid victory over Hong Kong China in the AFC Asian Cup qualifier. It may have been a dead rubber as neither had any chance of qualification, but the match was an exciting affair, and it provided great joy to a crowd of more than 22,000.
Kerala Blasters FC will hope its fans, too, will come in large numbers for its Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 match against NorthEast United on Wednesday. Those passionate supporters had stayed away in the previous games this season, and the Blasters team had justified their disinterest with some insipid football.
But, things are changing.
The franchise got a new coach – Ashley Westwood – and he seems to be turning things around. The Englishman, who achieved much with Bengaluru FC on his first assignment in India a few years ago, guided Blasters to their first win of the season. Ironically, that victory came against his old team, at Bengaluru.
ALSO READ | ISL: Ashley Westwood, the wizard of Bengaluru FC, eyes similar magic at Kerala Blasters
“Of course, it is always nice to get the first win,” Westwood said.
“We don’t have many games left, so the motivation for the players is to play well, to impress me, to impress the management, and to keep your place, your part in this club,” he added.
Like the Blasters, NorthEast too has struggled this season. Similar to its opponent, it has managed just a win, but has two points more.
Westwood’s boys will be hoping to overtake NorthEast with its maiden win at home, ideally in front of a good crowd.
Published on Apr 14, 2026
The atmosphere was electric inside the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi a fortnight ago, when India secured a splendid victory over Hong Kong China in the AFC Asian Cup qualifier. It may have been a dead rubber as neither had any chance of qualification, but the match was an exciting affair, and it provided great joy to a crowd of more than 22,000.
Kerala Blasters FC will hope its fans, too, will come in large numbers for its Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 match against NorthEast United on Wednesday. Those passionate supporters had stayed away in the previous games this season, and the Blasters team had justified their disinterest with some insipid football.
But, things are changing.
The franchise got a new coach – Ashley Westwood – and he seems to be turning things around. The Englishman, who achieved much with Bengaluru FC on his first assignment in India a few years ago, guided Blasters to their first win of the season. Ironically, that victory came against his old team, at Bengaluru.
ALSO READ | ISL: Ashley Westwood, the wizard of Bengaluru FC, eyes similar magic at Kerala Blasters
“Of course, it is always nice to get the first win,” Westwood said.
“We don’t have many games left, so the motivation for the players is to play well, to impress me, to impress the management, and to keep your place, your part in this club,” he added.
Like the Blasters, NorthEast too has struggled this season. Similar to its opponent, it has managed just a win, but has two points more.
Westwood’s boys will be hoping to overtake NorthEast with its maiden win at home, ideally in front of a good crowd.
Published on Apr 14, 2026
The atmosphere was electric inside the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi a fortnight ago, when…