Calcutta: Coach Shabbir Ali insisted on Sunday that the CFL Premier Division title is still within Mohammedan Sporting’s grasp.

The black and white brigade, who were ahead of the pack till recently, now find themselves sharing equal number of points with Mohun Bagan despite playing a match more. And Sunday’s 1-1 draw did precious little to break that deadlock.

“It’s still open. We still have a bright chance to wrap things up in style,” Ali said after Sunday’s encounter at the Salt Lake Stadium.

“We have easier opponents to face compared to East Bengal and Mohun Bagan,” Ali said.

The Mohammedan Sporting coach, however, seemed annoyed with the “below par refereeing.”

“It was clearly disappointing. He (the referee) had no clue and the game suffered because of his inefficiency,” he said.

Mohun Bagan coach Karim Bencharifa, too, agreed with Ali. “Poor refereeing kills the game,” he said, adding “but it’s part and parcel of the game.”

The Moroccan said Jose Ramirez Barreto’s inclusion was a morale boost for his boys.

Mohun Bagan officials, meanwhile, have decided to write a letter to Indian Football Association secretary Utpal Ganguly demanding an outstation referee for the return-leg derby against East Bengal.