Haugesund vs Viking Stavanger
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Today’s secondary featured game is the Eliteserien encounter between Haugesund and Viking Stavanger.
Although it’s been a little slower than normal, Haugesund are starting to imperiouosly defend their home form and subsequently enter this game on the back of a bizarre but impressive 5-0 win against Molde FK. Haugesund have scored an awful lot of goals at home so far this season, bagging sixteen goals in five games, so it’s safe to assume that they’re a threat in front of goal. I suppose credit must really go to boss Grindhaug because I can’t say I’d expect a forward line with Sorum, Soderlund, and Djordjic to produce so many goals but here we are! Bangura, Sorensen, and Daniel Bamberg have all contributed heavily from midfield too, just to give Haugesund that additional threat. Their problem has been conceding too many goals, something which even Kristiansen in goal can’t prevent despite him being a prominent part of Haugesund’s excellent defensive record at home last season. Their backline has been unsettled and it is again today really, with both Krakmo and Nilsen out. However, Haugesund welcome back Tronseth at the back and Sorensen in midfield and that certainly gives Grindhaug options here. Haugesund may well concede in this game as they have for most of their home games but their efficient and ruthless attacking style leaves me with no choice but to take them on here.
I’m especially glad that they’re facing sleeping giants Viking Stavanger in this game because Viking are absolutely nowhere this season. Their tactics entirely revolve around Nevland up front on his own and the support from hot prospect Berisha in midfield. There literally is nothing else to this team and it’s costing them so much. There’s reportedly a great deal of disarray at the club at the moment with the fans and backroom staff alike adding pressure. To make matters worse, Viking have been poor on the road this season with only their fortunate win at Fredrikstad showing even the faintest glimpse of competence on the road, although the result itself was actually largely down to bizarre weather conditions, if my memory serves me correctly. Since then, Viking have failed to score in three out of their last four away games and have duly lost three of them, shipping nine goals along the way. Could things be any worse for them? Of course they could! Talented winger Bjarnason is away with Iceland on international duty so there’s no creativity on the flanks and experienced midfield duo Knarvik and Sokolowski both miss out, which basically removes a large portion of Viking’s midfield. Bluntly; it’s not looking good for Hareide’s men.
I like Hareide, though – he’s a good and experienced manager and if anyone can get the best out of Viking Stavanger then it’s him. However, the odds are heavily against him doing that today for the reasons listed above so I have to take the home win when it’s as generously priced as evens. Haugesund may well concede here but I expect them to score at least twice!
Team news – Haugesund miss Nilsen, Krakmo, Maeland, and Steinsland whereas Viking Stavanger miss Knarvik, Bjarnason, Sokolowski, and Ingelsten.
Verdict: Haugesund to win at evens.
Monday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Thor Akureyi vs FH Hafnarfjordur – under 2.5 goals at 7/5.
I posted this tip ages ago but the game was rescheduled so here I am, posting the same tip again!
Basically, in a nutshell – Thor Akureyi haven’t adopted the atypical Icelandic approach to life in the Urvalsdeild as they’re forging their displays on a stout defence. Most sides (e.g. Stjarnan Gardabaer) approached promotion with attacking gusto and scored goals for fun but that’s not Thor Akureyi’s style. They’re very well-organised, physical, and hard to break down. It works for them, though! I don’t know if it’ll keep them in the division but they’re proving to be a nightmare to overcome!
That’s not the kind of side that FH like to play against because they’ve struggled to break sides down over the past couple of seasons due to their strikers not really showing up. FH are still one of the top three sides in Iceland, for me, but they have to score more goals to illustrate it and that’s exactly what they’ve struggled with this season, especially away from home.
There’s one other factor to consider here, too. The vast majority of Urvalsdeild games are played in south-west or west Iceland, which is generally where the bigger cities are. However, Thor are from a more central part of Iceland and although it’s far from being a long distance to travel, it’s an unusual journey to make because most clubs simply don’t have to make it. You can see what an impact travel tends to make on Icelandic clubs when they go to play IBV Vestmannaeyjar in their beloved island group and I just wonder if the “superstars” of FH will be unnerved by the physical approach of Thor and the unfamiliar ground that it’ll be played at. Either way, long shot though it is, under 2.5 goals appears very generously priced at 7/5 to me.
Verdict: Under 2.5 goals at 7/5.
Accumulator fodder:
Vikingur Gotu, FC Lahti.
Recommended bets:
Haugesund and FC Lahti at over evens.
As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts to prevent endless questions about my thoughts on certain games!
Argentinian Primera Division:
Racing Club Avellaneda vs Godoy Cruz de Mendoza (4) 1-2
Faroese Meistaradeildin:
Vikingur Gotu vs B71 Sandur (8) 2-0
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
Inter Turku vs IFK Mariehamn (6) 2-1
Jaro Pietarsaari vs JJK Jyvaskyla (5) 1-1
Finnish Ykkonen:
FC Lahti vs Hameenlinna (8)
Icelandic Urvalsdeild:
Thor Akureyi vs FH Hafnarfjordur (5) 0-1
Irish Premier League:
Dundalk vs St.Patrick’s Athletic (6) 1-0
Shamrock Rovers vs Derry City (6) 2-1
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Haugesund vs Viking Stavanger (6) 1-0
Lillestrom vs Odd Grenland Skien (5) 2-1
Molde FK vs Start Kristiansand (7) over 2.5 goals
Stabaek vs Aalesund (4) 0-0
Fredrikstad vs Sarpsborg 08 (5) 0-1
Norwegian Divisjon 1:
Alta vs Asker (6)
Hodd vs Ranheim (6)
Honefoss vs Bodo Glimt (4)
Kongsvinger vs Strommen (6)
Mjondalen vs Hamarkameratene (5)
Nybergsund vs Lov-Ham Bergen (6)
Sandnes Ulf vs Randaberg (7)
Swedish Allsvenskan:
IFK Goteborg vs Djurgarden (7) 2-1
Helsingborg vs GAIS Goteborg (7) 2-1
Orebro vs Trelleborg (6) 1-0
Swedish Superettan:
Jonkopings Sodra vs Osters (6)
Enjoy your free betting tips!