In the buildup to this clash, Shinnik have shown they remain a tough side to beat even after changing their head coach during the summer. The lads kept their sharp counter attacking ways and picked up a point at home against Sochi in the opening round after blowing a two goal lead. With thirteen games unbeaten in the league stretching back to last season, the home boys look set to stretch that run against the new boys in town.
Team Form
Shinnik have built a solid run without losing in the first league and they showed good fight to grab a draw after going two up early on. Leningradets on the other hand came into the division and got a heavy loss away to Ufa where an early red card did not help their cause. Before promotion the visitors had only three wins in their last nine outings across all competitions and their backline struggled to keep clean sheets in most of those games.
- Shinnik unbeaten in thirteen league matches
- Leningradets lost three nil on their first game up
- Visitors had just three wins in nine games before promotion
Tactical Analysis
Shinnik are very good at sitting in and hitting teams on the break but they might find it tricky if they have to control the game for long spells. The home side love to soak up pressure and strike fast which worked well in their draw with Sochi. For Leningradets it is still early days so their real strength is not fully clear yet though they will need to fix their defensive issues if they want to pick up points on the road.
Betting Proposal
With Shinnik playing at home against a newly promoted side that has already shown defensive cracks there is a good chance the hosts can grab all three points and keep their long unbeaten run going. The odds look fair for a home win and this types should land nicely. Shinnik to win at home with odds around 1.95
Overall the game shapes up as one where Shinnik can use their experience and home advantage to edge it while the visitors may still be finding their feet in the higher division. Expect a tight contest but one that favors the hosts who know how to grind out results.
