Home and Away: Brann have enough fibre to finish Start

 

Jonno Turner wraps up warm and takes us to Scandanavia for two selections today...

 

We're off to Norway for our first selection of the day - as Brann host Start in the Eliteserien, looking to build on a steady start to the campaign which sees them in fifth place after seven outings.

 

Rune Skarsfjord's side line up for this one having won four of their last five in all competitions - and three clean sheets from their last four league games on their own patch shows just how dominant the Bergen club have been of late.

 

That makes four straight wins in the league on their own patch, and they'll be keen to continue that momentum in this clash, as they welcome a Start side which, ironically, hasn't really got going yet.

 

Two losses and a draw from Mons Ivar Mjelde's side's last three games leaves them sitting in 11th place, and they'll be keen to get some points on the board quickly in order to climb the division.

 

Last year's 1. Division winners have recorded just two wins from their opening seven league outings, and will know that a continuation of that form for any length of time could see them heading back to where they came from at the first attempt.

 

And that makes five league away encounters without a win - a run which stretches back into October of last season - and a slump which the Kristiansand club will be desperate to arrest.

 

The 14 goals shipped during that run will ring alarm bells in the away camp, and it will be interesting to see how that leaky defence copes with a Brann side full of confidence and momentum on their own patch.

 

Bet 1: Brann (HOME) @ 1.95

 

Switching our attentions to Sweden now, where Hammarby travel to IK Brage, aiming to secure their third win in four games.

 

The visitors sit fifth in the Superettan after a bright start to the campaign, and go into this clash having lost just one of their last five league outings on the road - a run which will give them much confidence.

 

In the bigger picture, 11 undefeated from a dozen clashes home and away shows that Gregg Berhalter has made his side very difficult to beat - and the Johanneshov club will be keen to maintain that form here.

 

Hosts Brage line up for this one in miserable form having lost their last three on the bounce, and they sit in the relegation play-off places after five outings.

 

Conny Karlsson's side will be desperate to stop that rot, but no wins from five at the Domnarvsvallen suggests that they are far from formidable on their own patch, and no clean sheets in three points to a leaky defence.

 

Hammarby have won four and drawn one of their last five meetings with Brage, and I expect them to take maximum points from this one, too.

 

Bet 2: Hammarby (AWAY) @ 2.3

 

Bet HERE

Viewed 687 times