Haugesund vs Brann

 

Haugesund has 1-2-1 so far this season, but these results are better than it looks. Haugesund has only played 1 of 4 matches at home this season. In that home game, they beated Ole Gunnar Solskajer's Molde by 2-0.

 

Haugesund is very well known for their special strenght at home in Norway, but they are also known for beeing to poor away from home. Therefore the two draws, and only one loose away from home so far, is not that bad. Their only loss came in their first match against Vaalerenga. Haugesund leaded got an early red card, but took the lead and almost managed to keep it the whole way. Vaalerenga scored two goals in the end of the match and Haugesund were unlucky.

 

Haugesund are strong as a unit, and their two strikers Nikola Djurdjic (3 goals, 4 matches) and Alexander Soderlund (3 goals, 4 matches) has found each other very well so far.

 

Anders Johannesson and Erik Maeland are doubtful, while Trygve Nygaard is missing this match.

 

Brann has been the biggest dissapointment so far this season. The team from Bergen was one of the favourites to be in top 3 this season, but after 4 games they only have 1-0-3. The biggest blow came in the last match,when Brann lost 1-2 at home against Stromsgodset. Haugesund and Stromsgodset are both known for their poor performances away from home, so this loss was a major blow for Brann.

 

Kim Ojo, last years top scorer in Tippeligaen, has been hopeless and instead of scoring, he has began to dive and loss his focus. The general in midfield for Brann, Rudolph Austin (3 games, 1 goal) is still out after collapsing on the pitch against Molde. This loss is setting Brann back, and there is noone to take his place as the fighter he is. Tomasz Sokolowski and Jorgen Mohus is missing out with long term injuries, while Markus Jonsson is doubtful.

 

I think that Haugesund will keep up their good statistics at home, when they get their second match at home this season. Brann has been very poor and without Austin, it is going to be very difficult. Even if Brann has a good statistic against Haugesund through the years, it is a totally different story this year, and therefore my pick will be Haugesund (-0.75) AH.