Ismaili assistant coach Ahmed Al-Agouz echoed manager Nebojsa Vuckovic's defense of the team's 4-4-2 formation despite the 3-2 defeat at home to ENPPI. Last season's runners-up Ismaili failed to register their first Egyptian Premier League win after ENPPI battered their defense on Thursday. Some slack marking from defensive duo Moatasem Salem and Abdul-Hamid Sami allowed the visitors to claim all three points. Similar errors cost Ismaili an opening victory over promoted Mansoura, who held them to a 2-2 draw. "The 4-4-2 formation is not responsible for tonight's result," Al-Agouz told reporters following Ismaili's defeat to ENPPI. "The problem is that our players still lack harmony. We were also affected by the absence of (skipper) Mohamed Hommos, (midfielder) Ahmed Khairi and (winger) Omar Gamal." Serbian boss Vuckovic, who is yet to enjoy his first victory at the helm, said he intended to stick to the new strategy following the draw against Mansoura. The majority of Egyptian clubs implement a traditional 3-5-2 formation, where sweepers play a pivotal role in closing down spaces at the back. Harras Hodoud are the only club to have used it successfully during the past few years as they won the Egyptian Cup last season and clinched the local Super Cup title last month at the expense of Cairo giants Ahli. League holders Ahli and Arab Contractors employ it this season.
