Steve Coppell throws light on the Blasters' performance against southern rivals Chennaiyin FC.

It was a dull Diwali night at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai as the first South Indian derby of the third season of the Indian Super League (ISL) proved to be a damp squib. Both Kerala Blasters and Chennaiyin FC failed to capitalize on the half chances awarded in the match.

Blasters' coach Steve Coppell believed that his team had a disappointing first half, and that the half-time pep talk spurred them on after the interval.

''From my point of view, we were terrible in the first half. We found it difficult to get out of our own half. Although nothing really came off it for Chennai. In terms of performances, it was not really good.

''We had a few words at half-time. We had a different emphasis in the second half and we created three or four very good chances which on another day would have gone in. I was pleased when the half-time whistle came so that we could have a chat and try to sort things out,'' said the 61-year-old.

Coppell didn't hide his dismay with their first half performance, but said that his wide players were able to ping the ball into the box better in the second period.

''I was disappointed to a certain extent. In the first half, we weren’t really doing anything. But in the second half we started to get our crosses in the penalty box. We showed more attacking intent,'' stated the former Manchester United winger.

The Kerala gaffer felt that his side deserved the three points for their performance.

''I felt that if any team could have won the game, it was us. We had more purpose about our play,'' he said. Coppell claimed that the home team put them under pressure in the first period, something they had an answer to only after the break.

''You have to remember that we were playing the champions. They play a certain style of football which has been successful for a couple of years. They are a good team with good players. They put you under a lot of pressure. We did not respond to it in the first half. But we did so in the second half,'' explained the Englishman.

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