Start vs Ham-Kam: Eliteserien Preview

Right, folks, let's have a look at this one. Start are in lovely form heading into this Eliteserien fixture, and I have to be honest — the little guy here, Ham-Kam, is in a bit of a scrap. Start have won four of their last five matches and are on a two-game winning run that saw them score 7 and concede just 2. At home the numbers are just as encouraging: 11 wins from 20 home games, averaging 1.85 goals per game while conceding 1.25. Their most recent home result was a 2-1 win over Brann on 2 October, and before that a 2-0 home victory over the same side on 13 September. In their latest 10 games across all venues, Start have collected 6 wins and 0 draws, averaging 1.8 points per game. That is a team in good rhythm. Now, Ham-Kam. I always root for the underdog, and I'd love to find value here, but the numbers are not kind. Their last five matches yielded just one win, one draw and three losses, with 14 goals conceded across those games. Away from home the picture is even tougher: 12 losses from 20 away games, averaging 1.9 goals conceded per game. Their most recent away outing saw them fall 2-3 to Tromso on 20 September, and before that they were beaten 0-4 by Rosenborg on 5 September. In their latest 10 games, Ham-Kam have 3 wins, 2 draws and 5 losses, averaging 1.1 points per game. The head-to-head is a small sample. The only meeting within the last 12 months was at Ham-Kam's ground in April, which Ham-Kam won 2-1. The older meetings at Start's ground — a 2-1 win for Start in 2023 and a 1-4 loss in 2021 — are historical record and don't carry much weight for current form. Across all seven meetings, every single one went over 2.5 goals, and both teams scored in six of the seven. The matchup tables tell a clear story. Start's home record (11W 3D 6L, 1.8 points per game) sits well ahead of Ham-Kam's away record (5W 3D 12L, 0.9 points per game). Start score 1.85 per game at home to Ham-Kam's 1.35 away, and concede 1.25 to Ham-Kam's 1.9. In the latest 10 games, Start's 6 wins and 1.8 points per game compare with Ham-Kam's 3 wins and 1.1. The counter-argument for Ham-Kam is that they did pick up a 2-0 away win over Kjelsås on 16 September, and they scored twice in their loss to Tromso. The older H2H at Start's ground is split, with each side winning one. But those are historical, and the current form gap is significant. Ham-Kam's away defence, conceding 1.9 per game, meets a Start side that is scoring 2.4 per game in their last five. Key Points: - Start won 4 of their last 5 and are on a 2-game winning run (7 scored, 2 conceded) - Ham-Kam lost 3 of their last 5, conceding 14 goals, and have 12 losses in 20 away games - The only recent H2H meeting (April 2026) was at Ham-Kam's ground, which they won 2-1 - Start's home record: 11W 3D 6L, 1.85 scored, 1.25 conceded per game - All 7 H2H meetings went over 2.5 goals I'd love to back the little puppy here, but the football simply does not offer value in Ham-Kam's corner, and I will not back the favourite. no bet.