Mile End Stadium club produced five-goal thriller with local rivals Ilford on Saturday, but lost out 3-2

East London Advertiser: A Sporting Bengal player produces a neat turn against Ilford (pic Tim Edwards)A Sporting Bengal player produces a neat turn against Ilford (pic Tim Edwards) (Image: Archant)

Sporting Bengal United manager Imrul Gazi is staying positive despite seeing them suffer a fourth consecutive defeat on Saturday.

Ilford edged a five-goal thriller with the east Londoners in the Essex Senior League at Mile End Stadium.

With Haringey & Waltham beating Tower Hamlets 1-0 last night, Bengal are now bottom of the table.

“It is the story of our season that we either can’t hold onto a lead or fail to take our chances,” said Gazi.

“We are struggling at the back and have five long-term injuries so we’re putting midfielders in to fill the void. On Saturday we created lots of opportunities in open play, yet failed to take them.

“First half there was not a lot in the game and they took their chances and were winning 2-0. Second half we must have created eight or nine good opportunities and we’ve only taken two so lost.

“We need to stay positive and optimistic. I have a few players coming in and we just need to get out of this rot.”

Codey Cameron and Shiblu Miah were on target at Mile End, yet it wasn’t enough to give Bengal any reward.

They have a chance to halt their poor run tomorrow (Wednesday) when they visit Eton Manor.

After an improved second half display on Saturday, Gazi is looking forward to the battle at V&E Sports Ground.

He added: “If we win Wednesday we won’t get a chance to build on it for another week and that’s the way it has been for us.

“It has been hard, although it is just part and parcel of the Essex Senior League and I’m learning that.

“We tried a different formation in the second half of Saturday’s game and it worked so we’re going to do the same against Eton Manor.”