Indian Super League: Herbert Feels NorthEast United Deserved to Win, While Pune Boss Colomba Insists Draw was Not 'Bad Result'

NorthEast United FC boss Ricki Herbert admitted his disappointment at having dropped two points against FC Pune City following a goalless draw at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati.

Despite dominating and creating a lot of chances in the game, the John Abraham co-owned side failed to find a breakthrough and the match finally ended with both sides sharing a point each. And Herbert feels that his side was very unlucky not to register a win.

"This is definitely about two points dropped for we absolutely dominated the game tonight from start to finish. It was a very comprehensive performance but just lacking a goal," the former New Zealand boss told Goal.

Nevertheless, he said he is happy with his side's overall effort against Pune.

"We are not really disappointed because we played a good brand of football tonight. We passed the ball well against a side that's been doing pretty well in the competition," he added.

Finally Herbert insists that NorthEast United need to focus on doing well in their remaining fixtures so that guarantee themselves a spot in the semi-finals.

"We have to do very well because the other teams are winning, which is great for the league. I don't know how many we will need to make it to the top four, but we are only two (factually three) points from the top. It's going to be tight,"

Meanwhile, FC Pune City boss Franco Colomba said he is satisfied with the goalless draw even though his side missed a good opportunity to go to the top of the ISL table.

"I cannot ask for more from my boys, effort-wise," the Italian told ISL's official website. "When you are playing in a tournament where the fixtures come thick and fast and you are often playing two to three times a week, a team can sometimes lose the lucidity in its play."

Despite admitting that his side could have finished their chances better, Colomba feels that "a point away from home" is "not a bad result."

"We could have perhaps treated the opportunities that fell to us in a better way, but then, a point away from home is sometimes not a bad result. I think at this stage every point gained is vital. We are still in the top four and have home games to play."