St Mirren vs SK Brann Match Analysis and Prediction

St Mirren vs Brann Match Analysis & Prediction

St Mirren

08/08/2024 9:45 pm

Brann

by Vincent

9 months ago 0 137

DISCLAIMER: All odds are quoted at time the prediction went live. Check the sports book for updated odds

St Mirren will play host to SK Brann at the SMISA Stadium on Thursday night for the first leg of their Europa Conference League third qualifying-round tie.

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Best Odds: 1.23

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St Mirren return to action on Thursday in the midst of their first continental campaign since turning out in the 1988 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, with their sights set on the Conference League phase this season.

They secured that return to European competition with a fifth-placed finish in the Scottish Premiership last time around, their highest top-flight finish since also ending fifth in 1985, having collected 47 points, five more than Dundee in the fight for the final European spot.

That meant Stephen Robinson’s side entered qualifying in the second round in July and met Valur Reykjavik, and after seeing the away leg end goalless in Iceland, they progressed with a dominant 4-1 win on home turf through goals from Shaun Rooney, Toyosi Olusanya, Mark O’Hara and Alex Iacovitti.

Following that win, the Saints began their latest domestic campaign in style at the weekend, hosing Hibernian in their Scottish Premiership opener and taking all three points in a 3-0 victory as Roland Odowu opened the scoring at the beginning of the second half and Oisin Smyth put the game out of sight with a brace off the bench.

Meanwhile, Brann make the trip to Scotland looking to take a step closer to qualifying for a European competition for the first time since the 2008-09 UEFA Cup campaign, having fallen short in their three attempts since.

After falling at the final hurdle in Conference League qualifying last year, suffering a penalty-shootout defeat after a 4-4 aggregate draw with AZ Alkmaar in the playoff round, Brann secured a return with a second-placed Eliteserien finish in the 2023 campaign, beating Tromso on goal difference and trailing winner Bodo/Glimt by nine points.

Their continental campaign also began in the second round against Go Ahead Eagles, and after playing out a goalless draw in the away leg, Eirik Horneland’s side booked their ticket to the next stage with a comeback 2-1 victory at Brann Stadion through goals from Bard Finne and Fredrik Pallesen Knudsen.

Brann were back in action at the weekend, as they remained second in the Eliteserien after 18 matches with a 3-2 victory at Stromsgodset on Sunday, with Finne again on the scoresheet alongside a Sander Kartum finish and a Gustav Valsvik own goal.

St Mirren vs. Brann Head to head

This will be the first meeting between these two teams.

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UEFA Conference League

St Mirren Team News

Mikael Mandron, who led St Mirren’s scoring charts with 12 goals last season, will fight to come into the attack from the start, although Robinson may stick with the pairing of Jonah Ayunga and Olusanya.

Summer arrivals Idowu and Dennis Adeniran will hope to continue playing key roles in midfield, while Marcus Fraser. Alex Gogic and Richard Taylor should again line up in a back three despite competition from Iacovitti.

St Mirren's Last 5 Matches

13/07/2024

St Mirren

2

Fleetwood Town

2

Club Friendlies
19/07/2024

St Mirren

2

Carlisle United

2

Club Friendlies
25/07/2024

Valur

0

St Mirren

0

UEFA Conference League
01/08/2024

St Mirren

4

Valur

1

UEFA Conference League
04/08/2024

St Mirren

3

Hibernian

0

Premiership

Brann Team News

Aune Heggebo does have a claim to come into the Brann attack from the start having scored a team-high tally of nine goals so far this season.

Key defender Svenn Crone will likely remain sidelined by an injury, meaning Fredrik Pallesen Knudsen and Ruben Kristiansen should again partner up at the heart of a back four.