After playing nine matches, ATK Mohun Bagan sit at the top of the 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) table with 20 points. They are a point above second-placed Mumbai City who have a game in hand.
As the Mariners extended their unbeaten run to five matches with a 2-0 win against NorthEast United on Sunday, they also served the rest of the league a reminder.
The fixture against the Highlanders figuratively had the words 'stalemate' written all over it. It was always going to be a battle between two teams that thrived when they defended deep and countered their opponents.