Two sides who could do with a win go head to head in round 15 of the Norwegian Eliteserien as Stromsgodset play host Tromso IL at the Marienlyst Stadion on Sunday.
The Godset have failed to taste victory in any of their last five matches across all competitions, while the visitors head into the weekend on a run of one win in five league games since the start of June.
Match preview
Stromsgodset were condemned to their first league defeat since May as they were beaten 3-1 by Lillestrom when the sides squared off at the Arasen Stadion last Saturday.
Logi Tomasson pulled one back for the visitors in the 32nd minute after Thomas Lehne Olsen and Eric Kitolano put Lillestrom two goals up, but Marius Lundemo netted in the 47th minute to make sure of the result and hand the hosts their sixth win of the season.
Prior to that, Stromsgodset were on a five-game unbeaten run in the league, picking up back-to-back victories over Haugesund and Sarpsborg in May before playing out three consecutive stalemates in their subsequent three games.
Jorgen Isnes's men have now lost five of their 14 Eliteserien games while claiming five wins and four draws to collect 19 points and sit sixth in the table, level on points with seventh-placed Lillestrom.
Tromso, on the other hand, continue to struggle for results at the wrong end of the table as they suffered a somewhat disappointing 2-1 home defeat at the hands of KFUM Oslo last Saturday.
In an action-packed contest at the Alfheim Stadion, Johannes Nunez and Momodou Lion Njie scored on either side of Jakob Napoleon Romsaas's 63rd-minute equaliser to hand the visitors their fourth win of the season.
Following last weekend's result, Tromso have now lost each of their last three home games, conceding six goals and scoring twice, since picking up three consecutive victories over Odds BK, Rosenborg and Fredrikstad in May.
With 14 points from 15 matches, Jorgen Vik's men are currently 14th in the Eliteserien standings, level on points with Tromso and Odd, and just one point above rock-bottom Sandefjord.
Tromso will be backing themselves to find their feet this weekend as they journey to the Marienlyst Stadion unbeaten in each of their last four away games, claiming two wins and two draws since May's 4-0 defeat at Bodo/Glimt.
Team News
Stromsgodset remain without 21-year-old forward Ole Kristian Enersen, who has been out of action since picking up a severe injury against Lillestrom in February.
Sondre Hassen also continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines since sustaining an injury in February and the 23-year-old defender will also play no part in this weekend's game.
They are also joined on the club's injury table by 23-year-old midfielder Kreshnik Krasniqi, who has missed the last three games since coming off injured against Odd on June 2.
As for Tromso, they will have to cope without the duo of Vegard Erlien and 21-year-old defender Miika Koskela, who have been ruled out through foot and back injuries respectively.
Jakob Haugaard was forced off injured in the 19th minute against KFUM last weekend and the first-choice goalkeeper is a major doubt for Sunday's game, meaning that Simon Thomas should start between the sticks for the first time this season.
Stromsgodset possible starting lineup:
Braatveit; Taaje, Valsvik, Dahl; Vilsvik, Farji, Stengel, Therkelsen, Tomasson; Mehnert, Melkersen
Tromso IL possible starting lineup:
Thomas; Barry, Guddal, Skjaervik, Paintsil, Norheim; Hjertoe-Dahl, Jenssen, Antonsen; Romsaas, Nordaas
We say: Stromsgodset 1-1 Tromso IL
Stromsgodset and Tromso have struggled for results in recent weeks and will head into Sunday's clash in search of a pick-me-up. Vik's men have been tough to crack on their travels of late and we fancy them to hold the hosts to a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
