2. Haugesund (9) v Brann (12)

Brann chasing back to back wins on the road

TEAM NEWS

Haugesund midfielder Djedje Victorien is a long time injury and winger John Pelu is still a major doubt. The home team will definitely have to do without experienced midfielder Are Tronseth, who got sent off in injury time in the Start match.

Brann’s Rodolph Austin is back from suspension. He will fill in for fellow central defender Yaw Amankwah, who got booked for the third time last round.

Defender Birkir Savarsson only lasted one half last week and will be assessed before kick off. Midfielders Tijan Jaiteh and Gylfi Einarsson will probably miss out with injury.

Haugesund
Suspended: Tronseth (1 match)
Doubtful: Pelu (knee)
Injured/unavailable: Victorien (leg)

Brann
Suspended: Amankwah (1 match)
Doubtful: Savarsson (virus),
Injured/unavailable: Mohus (cartilage), Jaiteh (knee), Einarsson (back)

MATCH PREVIEW

The hosts improved their already strong home statistic when Start visited Haugesund last Sunday by winning 4-2. 5W-2D in seven home games.

But Haugesund is a small town and the club has a very limited budget compared to big clubs like the one they play this match. So it will not be a big surprise if a string of losses arrives during the second half of the season.

Midweek, they couldn’t deal with Stromsgodset in the Norwegian Cup in a 0-3, and were eliminated.

Former assistant Rune Skarsfjord has made a sudden impact since he was given the role as head coach in Brann. The 3-0 win against fellow strugglers Kongsvinger last week was the first away from home this season. And of course extremely important for the self esteem within the squad.

Some tactical adjustments have also been made under the new coach and the 4-3-2-1 formation suits the team a lot better than the former 4-4-2.

There is no doubt that Brann has the necessary quality to rock Haugesund’s tremendous home statistic. This could very well be a new away win.

HEAD TO HEAD

Brann are 2W-1D against Haugesund since year 2000.