Too early for a relegation six pointer?
Is it too early in the season to whip out the cliché of a relegation six pointer? It certainly is in my book however the table is grim ready for both Belshina Bobruisk and Gorodeya at the moment, both sides are without a point on the board two games into the campaign and they have only scored one goal between them. This was Leonid Kovel’s seventh minute strike on the opening day for Belshina against FC Minsk, a time when they were still riding high on promotion last term. Gorodeya finished seventh in the topflight in 2019 and so should be confident of taking something from this encounter.
Last time out
There were plenty of positives for the newcomers to take from their 1-0 defeat against Torpedo Zhodino on the road. They had more possession, overall shots and equaled the hosts’ total for shots on target, Valeri Gorbachik netted the winner on 50 minutes as Belshina slumped to 15th position.
Goalless Gorodeya lost out by a goal to nil at Vitebsk first off and then 2-0 at home to eighth placed Shakhtyor Soligorsk. Belarusian Premier League stalwart on the pitch and in the dugout, boss Oleg Radushko may consider some much-needed changes in approaching their trip to Bobruisk.
Ones to watch
23-year-old Russian striker Artem Arkhipov enjoyed a strong end to the 2019 campaign having joined Gorodeya from Russian Premier League side Tambov. Hitting the ground running with eight goals and one assist in just 13 outings. He has drawn two consecutive blanks for the first time in his Gorodeya career and will be determined to ensure the drought will not continue.
Skipper Dmitri Lebedev is another key player for Friday’s visitors, the attacking midfielder has 53 goal involvements in 121 games for the club and is one of the experienced heads now at 33. Belshina will need to defend well again to deal with this duo, such that they proved they are capable of in their last match at Zhodino. Lebedev contributed four goals and two assists from the middle of the park in 2019.
Belshina’s inexperience and lack of quality in front of goal will rear its ugly head once again in this one. With last season’s seventh placed finishers getting their mojo back to climb up the table.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
Gorodeya got off the mark with a second half strike, 1-0 it ended.