IK Start vs Stromsgodset Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

This game features two sides that haven’t exactly been setting the world on fire this season. It’s no great surprise to see newly promoted Start struggling but Stromsgodset have taken a real turn for the worse over the off-season. They finished 4th last term but are languishing in 12th place as we head towards the mid-way point of this season.

They are only two points above the relegation play-off places and it’s a bit of a mystery as to why it has all gone wrong for them. Their boss Tor Ole Skullerud resigned earlier this week as a response to this dreadful start and they look set to be in interim charge here. That doesn’t always work out well and scout Bjørn Petter Ingebretsen will most likely oversee things in this one for the visitors.

Start have also changed their manager in recent weeks. Englishman Mark Dempsey was dismissed in May having only been appointed in December. There certainly doesn’t seem to be much patience at the club, with Steinar Pedersen sacked last term despite guiding them to promotion from the second tier.

Therefore neither side fully convinces here but the value looks to lie in backing the hosts to get a result. Godset are as short as 17/20 for the win and that’s hard to really understand given they are a managerless side that has lost 67% of their away games this term in the Eliteserien. They’ve shipped 2.17 goals per game away and were hammered 4-0 at Kristiansund in their most recent road fixture.

Those factors have to give hope to Start. Their home record doesn’t exactly convince either but they have at least picked up a couple of wins on their own patch this term in the league and perhaps significantly they did beat Stromsgodset on their last outing at the Sparebanken Sør Arena.

Bodø/Glimt have an identical record to Stromsgodset of 12 points from 12 games so this should be a similar kind of test. Overall, backing Start Double Chance looks like it could be the smart move here.

It’s hard to strongly fancy either side for the win though. Neither side are playing with much confidence or quality right now and it would be no surprise to see a scrappy, tight game with little in it. Going for a 1-1 Draw could be the best move in the Correct Score market.