ISL 2025-26: Merry Kerala Blasters face Jamshedpur Test

From a team that wondered where the next point would come from, Kerala Blasters have come a long way.

On Tuesday evening it was just two minutes away from victory over NorthEast United. In the previous match, it even defeated a strong Bengaluru FC in an away match.

So, it should be with a confident frame of mind that Blasters will take the field for Saturday’s ISL match against Jamshedpur FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The visitors obviously offer a tough challenge: with 15 points they are almost at the top of the table and are among the title candidates of this shortened season. And the hosts are at the other end of the table facing the threat of relegation.

READ | Chennaiyin FC battles past Sporting Club Delhi for the first home win of the season

However, the coach, Ashley Westwood, is not worried. This is only the fourth game since he took over from David Catala.

“We have four points from three games and that is not bad,” said Westwood. «It should have been a little better, if I’m honest, but there is no panic; we are preparing for the next game. We are going to try to get some points. Of course we are going to try to win, which we always do.»

He admitted it wouldn’t be easy. “We are against a very strong team, Jamshedpur, who still have a very experienced coach (Owen Coyle), who knows what to do and who knows how to play football in India,” Westwood said. “So we have to prepare well, we have to make sure that we all go in with the best of ourselves.”

Published on April 17, 2026