Kochi: NorthEast United FC picked up a 0-0 away draw against Kerala Blasters FC in an Indian Super League (ISL) encounter on Thursday evening in Kochi.

At the post game press conference, Ricki Herbert shared his opinion on James Keene getting a red card, "I thought it was a reckless tackle and nine out of ten referees would not have sent him off."

The away side were reduced to ten men in the 75th minute when James Keene was sent off after reacting to a dangerous tackle from Michael Chopra.

Keene, Joan Capdavila, Robin Gurung and Len Doungel replaced Adinga Ralte, Isaac Chansa, Boithang Haokip and Koke for the visitors. Meanwhile, Kerela Blasters FC made several changes as CS Sabeeth, Raphael Romey, Abhinabo, Sandesh Jhingan,Colin Falvey and David James made way for Cedric Hengbert, Nirmal Chettri, Mehtab Hossain, Penn Orji, Sandip Nandy and Victor Herrero.

The opening few minutes were relatively even as Felipe de Crasto's shot was deflected behind for a corner in the fifth minute but the hosts then began to take the initiative.

In the eighth minute, Iain Hume slid a ball through for Milagres Gonsalves who was clean through in the box. Rehenesh TP rushed off his line and made a great save but the flag was up for offside anyway.

Kerala were beginning to engineer a few half chances but NorthEast did well to keep hold of possession and take the sting out of the game for a while.

In the 22nd minute, Milagres turned well and rolled the ball across the edge of the box where Stephen Pearson struck it but Rehenesh made a comfortable save.

NorthEast were biding their time during the opening exchanges but had the best chance of the half in the 24th minute. Miguel Garcia got his head to Felipe's delivery from a corner kick but his effort was headed off the line by Mehtab Hossain. Sandip Nandy then eventually collected the ball after a couple of fumbles just in front of the goal.

Two minutes later, Keene found himself in space inside the box but Nandy managed to get down and parry his shot away.

From a Kerala corner in the 39th minute, Nirmal Chettri towered above the rest and powered his header over the target from a good position.

The visitors could have taken the lead in first half stoppage time though. Felipe smashed in a shot from the edge of the box with his weaker right foot after Keene had laid it off for him. Nandy however, produced a good save as he turned it around the post for a corner.

The first chance after half-time fell to Kerala in the 55th minute. Cedric Hengbart delivered a ball to the far post where Pearson ran onto it but saw his side-foot volley from close range skied horribly over.

The woodwork denied the home team in the 69th minute when Nirmal attacked a corner kick again and was afforded a free header from close range this time. His effort however, crashed off the upright.

Four minutes later, Keene should have put his side ahead. He ran on to Kondwani Mtonga's delightful flicked through ball off the outside of his boot. The striker brushed away Nirmal but was denied brilliantly by Nandy in a one-on-one situation.

The Kiwi forward was then given his marching orders two minutes later. A reckless late tackle by Michael Chopra left Keene floored but prompted him to get back up and confront the former Newcastle United striker. The referee booked Chopra for the challenge but issued Keene a red card for the altercation that followed it.

Despite going down to ten men, NorthEast's trademark never-say-die attitude was on show again as they created several opportunities in the closing stages.

In the 83rd minute, Massamba Sambou attempted an audacious lob from over 40 yards out. His effort went mighty close too as it had the keeper back pedaling but eventually landed on the roof of the net.

Mtonga then had a glorious chance in the final minute of regulation time. Massamba split the defence with a ball through for the Zambian international but Nandy was off his line yet again to thwart the visitors with another good save.

Deep into injury time, Rehenesh pulled off a sensational save to earn the visitors a point as Andrew Barisic's powerful shot from the edge of the box seemed destined for the corner.

The draw keeps NorthEast United FC's hopes of making the play-offs alive but the side must rely on results elsewhere going their way. Ricki Herbert would understandably be aggrieved at not securing all three points after the performance with Nandy having denied them time and again.