Ligue 2: Clermont- Le Havre
I have spoken many times about Clermont and the very open nature of their games , we can take that as a given, for today , I want to focus on Le Havre, I was very pleased with my preview of their last away game, a trip to Auxerre ...............
We have largely left Le Havre alone this season, apart from taking a few "overs" which have worked out well. I spent much of last season bigging them up and they finished well, but not well enough, missing promotion not just on goal difference, but by goals scored ! They were made favourites this season, started well, but have nosedived recently, failing to win in seven league and cup games. Ahead of their first defeat of the season, at home to Troyes, I spoke about their solid start, last season, their offensive abilities, but did give a warning about them defensively ...........
HAC came up a goal short of promotion last season and that, allied to just two automatic promotion spots, should ensure they will always be looking for maximum points. Nimes are without suspended left back (but has now been converted to left sided central defender) Fethi Harek, the 11 games he has missed in the last 12 months have averaged 2.91 goals. His absence will have got the attention of Le Havre new signing Algerian winger Zinedine Ferhat, who could go down the same route as HAC's last "name" Algerian signing Rihad Mahrez, Ferhat has every trick in the book and then some and there will be plenty of entertainment in watching him this season.
They have finally made the solid start to the season they have been waiting several campiagns for and it really is all about top two for them and in addition to their seven points, they also scored five goals inside 17 minutes (!) away to Reims, who were playing top flight football three months ago, in the cup and that highlights their goalscoring potential when they cut loose.They let a lead slip in a draw at Gazelec last week and I cannot believe that they will be looking for anything other than all three points, but they did concede three in two games (league and cup) last week and we "know" that Troyes ( see opening day notes above) just do not have it in them to come here with a negative mindset .
HAC must be terribly disappointed with the way things have played out since, especially after such a promising start, the pressure has to be mounting on head coach Bob Bradley and this feels like draw a line in the sand time. They need to turn things around before the international break and this and the home game with Sochaux next week, might well be the two most important games they will play before Christmas, they are "only" six points off the top of the table, but cannot afford to let that grow, with this season all about top 2 for them.
I have been waiting for a "performance" and we saw one in the 1-1 draw with (then) leaders Brest on Tuesday, when HAC looked much the better side, really took the game to the visitors should have been two up, before falling behind, but did not let heads drop, equalised, felt they had an attempt which "crossed the goal line", but was not given and battled until the end, being denied a winner by three unbelievable saves and they spoke afterwards of getting great confidence from the 90 minutes. Duhamel and Gimbert are still scoring goals and are as potent as any pairing at this level, several of the senior players spoke honestly this week about the bad run, but that they all still "believed" and I saw plenty to like in midweek and think they remain one of the better Ligue 2 teams. Defensive midfielder Jean-Pascal Fontaine returns after missing two games today, Le Havre are unbeaten in five on the road when he starts, conceding just three goals, that sequence includes a 3-1 win here at the end of last season and they have allowed just four goals in eight road outings when Fontaine plays and he gives them a far more solid look. Hosts have failed to score in their last five league starts and look the perfect opposition for Le Havre at this time.
They won that 1-0 and followed up by beating highflying Sochaux 2-1 before the break, that was noteworthy as head coach Bob Bradley had left on the day of the game to join Premier League Swansea City. Oswald Tanchot (pictured) his number 2 took over and has already made some big decisions regarding his coaching staff and that is a good sign, as he is confident enough to do that and wants to make the job his own.This is a good squad and the move will doubtless be good for Bradley's bank balance, but might also be better for HAC, as they are a team happier unshackled IMO and allowed to play to their strengths and that was definitely not always the case under their US boss.
However and there is almost always an however, he and HAC have to travel without Issam Chebake, Steven Fortes , Ghislain Gimbert and Cédric Cambon, their offensive threat remains without Gimbert, but they are without three important defenders and the backline will include at least two inexperienced players and will be probably the youngest in action in Ligue 2 today (average age 21, oldest 23). Clermont love a 2-1/1-2 (five in their last ten starts) and they have won 3 of the last 6 h2h meetings here by that exact scoreline, both to score, one to notch a winner.
1.5 units "over" 2.5 goals 2.17 asian line/Sportmarket.
Clermont : Caillard, L'Hostis - Agounon, Djellabi, Fontaine, Laporte, Salze - Busin, Centonze, Ekobo, Guerbert, Jobello, Lopy, Pereira-Lage - Ajorque, Dugimont, Thiam.
Le Havre : Farnolle, Thuram - Bese, Moukoudi, Bain, Camara, Mendy - Salles Lamonge, Bonnet, Ayasse, Ferhat, Fontaine, Lekhal - Dembélé, Duhamel, Julan.
Good Luck.
