ISL 2023-24: We should have been more ruthless: Bengaluru FC’s Simon Grayson

Bengaluru FC head coach Simon Grayson admitted they should have been more ruthless against Hyderabad FC after their 1-1 draw in the Indian Super League at the GMC Balayogi Stadium, Hyderabad on Saturday.

Hyderabad FC took the lead in the 35th minute as Mohammad Yasir scored for the hosts. However, the visitors were able to bounce back after Ryan Williams scored in the 58th minute.

Bengaluru FC took four shots on target and dominated the possession with 63.8% but the Englishman feels they should have been more relentless in their approach.

“For a neutral, you can look at it as a very open and entertaining game. From our perspective, we should have been a bit more ruthless when we got the opportunities,” Grayson said during the post-match press conference.

“Hyderabad FC had a few free opportunities with which we need to do better defensively,” he added.

Grayson admitted they were not up to the mark in the first half and thus they had to pay the price as they conceded the goal.

“In the first half, we looked a little bit lethargic that was maybe due to the quick turnaround and the travelling we had got but also due to the shape they Hyderabad FC played. I don’t think they have played the 3-4-3 much this season if at all. We didn’t come to terms with that because the preparation was all about them playing a different system,” Grayson said.

“We still created some good chances in the first half. They got a goal which we should have done better with and we weren’t great defensively,” he added.

The gaffer feels they were better in the second half but regretted that they could not go the three points despite some good chances.

“Second half, we made the changes, we passed the ball better, we had more energy and came to grips with their system a lot better and we had some really good opportunities,” the 53-year-old said.

“It’s just a shame that we didn’t finish off the other golden opportunities. Suresh should have squared it to Sunil but it’s football. You make good decisions, you make bad decisions, unfortunately, that wasn’t a great one,” he added.

Bengaluru FC will next take on NorthEast United FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati on 26th November.