Ilves seen to mean business this season, not just in the league. Since the turn of the year, they've not been defeated on home soil in a competitive game. They're solid at the back on don't give the opposition too many chances. In contrast Marienhime have been wobbly on the road. They do attack but concede 1.8 goals/game that's a lot in this league. With Ilves' organisation and intensity I think they should get a win and keep the pressure on HJK at the top. Fingers crossed.
Pre-season expectations are a funny thing as they will be typically high for the majority of fans who believe that their side have finally got the tools to kick on in the league and achieve success. However, although expectations at both HIFK and SJK would not have been particularly high, both sides come into this Tuesday’s clash in high spirits as neither side looks in bad touch and, fortunately for us, that should result in an entertaining fixture.
For fans of HIFK, they would not have been expecting too much from the campaign as the title looked beyond reach but they were too good to be involved in a scrap at the bottom. However, in the early stages of the season they struggled to put points on the board and found themselves in a battle they wished to have no part of. Fortunately for the hosts, their form picked up and they come into this match undefeated in their previous five matches, albeit four of those five matches finishing in a draw.