Sandefjord vs Kristiansund

Sandefjord and Kristiansund square off on Sunday as both teams look to strengthen their position in the Eliteserien table.

These clubs currently sit in seventh and ninth place respectively, albeit with the visitors having played two more games than their hosts.

Match preview

On the back of last season’s 10th-placed finish, Sandefjord are aiming for better this time around, and they currently seem well on course to achieve just that.

A total of 21 points have been accumulated from 13 games, The Boys winning seven times and losing six, and there is a nine-point gap to second spot with two matches in hand.

Andreas Tegstrom will be frustrated with his team’s inconsistency after each of their last four victories were followed by a defeat.

Most recently, Sandefjord went down 2-0 away at Bodo/Glimt, but they boast the best home record in the division having won all six of their games at the Jotun Arena.

With 16 goals and four clean sheets coming from those games, Sandefjord will expect to record a seventh such triumph on Sunday.

In sharp contrast, Kristiansund have recently been involved in three low-scoring draws, just one goal being scored and conceded.

At the time, those stalemates have been against teams ranging from third to 16th, and Amund Skiri knows that they need to rediscover some form in the final third.

Kristiansund’s only victory in six fixtures came against fourth-placed Rosenborg on June 22, starting their ongoing four-game unbeaten streak.

That has enable them to move six points clear of the relegation zone, yet Skiri will have greater ambitions now that his team’s defensive record is improving week by week.

Sandefjord Norwegian Eliteserien form:

W L W L W L

Kristiansund Norwegian Eliteserien form:

L L W D D D

Team News

Tegstrom must decide whether to tinker with his Sandejford side, his team conceding two goals after a triple change was made at half time.

The likes of Vetle Walle Egeli, Elias Jemal and Darrell Tibell may all have to remain patient for a recall to the starting lineup.

Meanwhile, Kristiansund will be without Marius Olsen after the centre-back was handed a 14th-minute red card in the draw with Sarpsborg 08.

Igor Jelicic was introduced in his place soon afterwards and appears likely to take his spot in the backline for this contest.

Alioune Ndour is also pushing for a recall in attack ahead of Mustapha Isah, who has failed to score in his last three matches.

Sandefjord possible starting lineup:

Hadaya; Pedersen, Kristiansen, Smajlovic, Cheng; Ottosson, Mork, Dzabic; Patoulidis, Sigurdsson, Dunsby

Kristiansund possible starting lineup:

Skjaerstein; Haugen, Ulvestad, Jelicic, Flex; Old, Igor, Odegard; Corlu, Ndour, Kilen

We say: Sandefjord 2-1 Kristiansund

With Kristiansund having recorded draws in their last three outings, it would come as no surprise if a fourth successive stalemate followed here. However, Sandefjord have shown a more ruthless streak in the final third and we are backing them to edge this contest.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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