Sports Mole previews Monday's Norwegian Eliteserien clash between Lillestrom and Fredrikstad, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Lillestrom will be looking to pick up back-to-back league wins when they play host to Fredrikstad at the Arasen Stadion in round nine of the Norwegian Eliteserien on Monday.
Having failed to win any of their four home games this term, the Canaries will need to be at their best as they take on an opposing side who are on a blistering run of seven consecutive victories across all competitions.
Match preview
Lillestrom returned to winning ways in style as they edged out Viking 4-1 when the two sides squared off at the Viking Stadion on Thursday.
The visitors raced into a three-goal lead inside the opening 38 minutes with Thomas Lehne Olsen, Gjermund Asen and Eric Kitolano hitting the target, and after Zlatko Tripic pulled one back for Viking in the 68th minute, Erling Knudtzon netted in the 91st minute to cap off a brilliant team performance.
Prior to that, Andreas Georgson's men were on a three-game winless run, playing out a 1-1 draw with HamKam on April 28 before suffering back-to-back defeats against Sarpsborg and Brann respectively.
Sandwiched between the two defeats, Lillestrom booked their spot in the fifth round of the NM Cup courtesy of a 4-3 extra-time victory over Stromsgodset on Marienlyst Stadion, with Gjermund Asen scoring the all-important goal in the 116th minute.
Lillestrom have picked up three wins from their opening eight Eliteserien games while losing four and claiming one draw to collect 10 points and sit seventh in the league table, level on points with Rosenborg, Haugesund and Stromsgodset.
Fredrikstad, on the other hand, have hit the ground running in the big leagues as they currently sit fourth in the league standings, level on 17 points with third-placed Molde and just five points adrift of first-placed Bodo/Glimt.
Having clinched the 1st Division title last season with 64 points from 30 matches, Mikkjal Thomassen's men have picked up five wins and two draws in their opening eight top-flight matches, with their only defeat coming on April 1, when they were beaten 2-0 by Bodo/Glimt.
Fredrikstad made it seven wins on the spin across all competitions on Thursday when they thrashed Stromsgodset 4-1 thanks to goals from Stian Stray Molde, Morten Bjorlo, Oscar Aga and an own goal from Eirik Andersen.
This fine run of results has seen the Aristokratene reach the fifth round of the NM Cup, having won each of their opening four matches, including a 10-0 hammering of third-tier Drobak/Frogn in the cup curtain-raiser on April 10.
While Fredrikstad will be looking to pick up an eighth consecutive win, they will have to show their mettle on Monday as they take on an opposing side who are unbeaten in each of their previous four meetings, losing three and claiming one draw since a 2-1 victory in September 2012.
Lillestrom Norwegian Eliteserien form:
- L
- W
- D
- L
- L
- W
Fredrikstad Norwegian Eliteserien form:
- D
- D
- W
- W
- W
- W
Team News
Lillestrom will take to the pitch without the attacking duo of Elias Solberg and 33-year-old Mathis Bolly who continue their lengthy spells on the sidelines through injury.
Lars Ranger has been out of action since picking up an ACL injury against Odds on March 16 and the 25-year-old midfielder is out of contention for Monday's game.
Nineteen-year-old Henrik Skogvold missed the midweek game against Viking after sustaining an injury in the 2-0 loss against Brann on May 12 and the striker is also a major doubt for the hosts.
As for Fredrikstad, Thomassen will be unable to name the duo of Filip Stensland and Mai Traore, who are currently recuperating from heel and thigh injuries respectively.
Experienced midfielder Joannes Bjartalid has missed each of the last three games since coming off injured against Odds on May 5 and will also play no part in Monday's matchup.
Lillestrom possible starting lineup:
Christiansen; Charles, Gabrielsen, Garnas, Tonnessen; Asen, Ibrahimaj, Lundemo; Kitolano, Olsen, Larsson
Fredrikstad possible starting lineup:
Fischer; Aukland, Skaret, Woledzi; Metcalfe, Sorlokk, Magnusson, Rafn; Molde, Kjaer, Bjorlo
We say: Lillestrom 1-1 Fredrikstad
Fredrikstad have kicked off the campaign on the front foot and will be looking to maintain their impressive run of results on Monday. While Lillestrom have struggled to grind out results at home this term, we predict they will do just enough to force a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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