St Mirren vs Brann Prediction: Red-hot Brann to show power in Paisley

St Mirren will have their hopes of reaching the Conference League group stages tested when they host Brann in the first leg of their third-qualifying-round tie on Thursday night.

Read on for my St Mirren vs Brann prediction, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

Saints made a positive start to their Scottish Premiership campaign with a 3-0 win against Hibernian, but they next face a Brann side who are just over halfway through their Eliteserien campaign in Norway.

Brann have impressed in the Norwegian top-flight this season, with only champions-elect Bodo/Glimt above them in the table.

With just one defeat in their last nine games in all competitions (against Bodo), Brann will take some stopping to be denied a win at SMISA Stadium on Thursday night.

Football Odds

Team News

At this very early stage of the season Buddies boss Stephen Robinson has no injury concerns ahead of Thursday’s game.

Having seen off Valur Reykjavik in the last round, Robinson is likely to opt for the same starting XI against Brann this week.

That means Jonah Ayunga and Toyosi Olusanya look set to start up front, although Robinson does have the option to bring Mikael Mandron into the fold.

As for Brann, the Bergen outfit will have to do without key defender Svenn Crone in the backline as he continues to recover from a knock.

Crone’s absence means Fredrik Pallesen Knudsen and Ruben Kristiansen are set to line up in the heart of the Brann defence once again.

St Mirren vs Brann Odds

St Mirren are the 5/2 underdogs to win the game and take a lead into the second leg in Bergen next week.

Brann are 9/10 to head back across the North Sea with a win, while a draw on the night is available at 12/5.

Brann to win and BTTS @ 11/4

While St Mirren are just feeling their way into the new season, Brann are fully up to speed and have impressed of late with just that one defeat Bodo in their last nine competitive games.

Games involving Brann tend to be high-scoring affairs with action at both ends, which bodes well for an entertaining match.

Five of SK Brann’s last six games in all competitions have seen both sides get on the scoresheet and it would be little surprise to see St Mirren get a goal on the night.

However, Brann have the firepower in attack, with the likes of Bard Finne, Aune Heggebo and Magnus Warming all capable of unlocking this Saints' defence to hand the visitors the win.

Half-Time/Full-Time - Brann/Brann @ 2/1

Bagging two goals in the first half away at Stromsgodset last time out, Brann can make another strong start on the road at SMISA Stadium.

Looking to catch a potentially rusty St Mirren off guard in the opening exchanges, Brann are good value to be leading at the half-time and full-time whistle in Renfrewshire.

Offers

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