Haugesund vs Sogndal

Despite their recent dip in form, you have to favour Haugesund here

TEAM NEWS

Haugesund’s midfielder Trygve Nygaard will be out until August after having an operation to address testicular cancer.

Sogndal’s defender Eivind Daniel Roed and forward Joakim Rudolfsen are still concerns.

Haugesund
Suspended: None
Doubtful: None
Injured/unavailable: Trygve Nygaard (testicular cancer)

Sogndal
Suspended: None
Doubtful: Eivind Daniel Roed, Joakim Rudolfsen
Injured/unavailable: None

MATCH PREVIEW

Haugesund followed up their rare loss at Odd Grenland two weeks ago with a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Rosenborg on the weekend – their first home loss of the season and the only one in their last 18 home league fixtures. The side obviously struggled in attack without their suspended top goal scorer Nikola Djurdjic, and will therefore welcome his return for the game with Sogndal. Although they have finally lost at home, there is no shame losing to Rosenborg and they remain a formidable home side.

Sogndal, meanwhile, had a better weekend, ending an eight game winless streak with a comfortable 3-1 home victory over rock bottom Stabaek. Beating Stabaek is hardly worth boasting about, but it can’t be denied that Sogndal have improved in recent games, with that win coming a week after a brave performance earned them a 1-1 draw at Tromso.

But despite Sogndal’s recent improvements and Haugesund’s downturn, the quality at Haugesund’s possession, and their home record in recent times, suggests a home win.

HEAD TO HEAD

In April, Haugesund came from a goal down to grab a 1-1 draw away at Sogndal. Last season, both these sides picked up home wins over each other; in their previous league meetings in 2009, both sides picked up away victories over the other. Indeed, their recent meetings have been very even, with three wins a piece in their last six fixtures.