The Swedish Superettan is reaching its final few weeks of the season and with the battle to gain promotion looking like one being fought by just three teams, it is the fight to avoid relegation that now arguably garners the most attention.
This weekend sees Dalkurd FF play host to Östers IF at the Galvevallen and with the hosts having almost too much to do in order to earn a top three finish, the question is whether their relegation threatened opposition can pick up much needed points on Saturday.
Going into Week 24 of the season, Dalkurd FF find themselves currently lying sixth in the table and eleven points off a third – a position that will provide a route to the end of season promotion playoffs.
While it is their inconsistency which has proved to be their undoing thus far, as although they’ve won ten of their twenty-three Superettan fixtures this season, they have lost just as many.
Had their manager adopted a more pragmatic approach at times, then some of those ten defeats could have just as easily been draws instead, subsequently giving Paul Olaussson and his players a better chance of earning promotion.
Dalkurd are one of the more entertaining teams in Swedish second division , Superettan
At the same time, there is no doubting that Dalkurd are one of the more entertaining teams in the division and with their ability to score goals they will always cause trouble for opposition defences.
However, it is the propensity to concede more at the other end that has ultimately proved to be their undoing in this campaign, and it is here where improvements will need to be made in the off-season.
They go into the weekend’s clash with Östers IF having suffered a 3-1 away defeat to IK Brage and in their last five Superettan outings, they have lost three and won two.
Not only that, but the pattern in those five matches is a loss followed by a win and if that is to be continued this weekend, it means bad news is on the horizon for Östers IF.
They currently find themselves lying bottom of the Superettan and with just seven matches of the season to go, time is running out to start a much needed escape from the foot of the table.
That said, even if they do climb out of the bottom two, a 13th or 14th finish in the Superettan means entry into the relegation play-offs and only the briefest of respites.
A look at the current standings sees Östers IF two points behind IK Frej, who themselves fill the last of the automatic relegation places and three points behind IF Brommapojkarna.
Östers IF manager Christian Jardler knows that he cannot give up hope just yet, but with his players earning just two points from the last fifteen on offer, earning an away on Saturday is going to be a tough ask.
Although Dalkurd
Tipsterz predictions and odds| Dalkurd FF vs Östers IF
- Dalkurd to Win – 2.47
- Draw – 3.44
- Östersto Win – 2.74
- Over 2.5 goals. Yes 1.84 | No 1.84
- We have two tips for Dalkurd vs Östers. Goals – Total 1 Over 1.5 @ 2.31 and 1×2 Dalkurd @ 2.47 (Dalkurd to win)
- All odds posted in this preview are taken from 1xbit / 1xbet. Odds are subject to change