TNS vs FC Astana prediction: EUROPE: Conference League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-10-23 19:00.
[p]TNS have already made history this season by becoming the first Cymru Premier club to get past the qualifying rounds of a European competition, but they will be only too aware that there are still further barriers to break down. After a commendable 2-0 UEFA Conference League defeat to Fiorentina, the Welsh club now go in search of their first points in the league phase of the competition.[/p]
[p]Craig Harrison’s side could hardly have warmed up for the visit of Astana in better fashion, as they registered a record-equalling 16-0 triumph against Llangollen in the Welsh Cup at the weekend. That was a third win in a row for the Saints, though they have worryingly only picked up one victory in their last seven home European ties (D4, L2), but are having to play this fixture at Shrewsbury’s New Meadow due to the unsuitability of their own stadium, Park Hall. [/p]
[p]Their Kazakhstani visitors will be looking to take advantage of that, and they are on a three-match three-match winning streak of their own after beating Yelimay Semey 3-0 at the weeken​​d. Each of those victories were accompanied by a clean sheet, including a 1-0 success against TSC in their opening fixture in this phase of the Conference League.  [/p]
[p]That continued an impressive start to the European campaign for Grigori Babayan’s side, who have come through three rounds of qualifying to reach the league phase. Their fans will now be dreaming of reaching the knock-out stages of a UEFA competition for only the second time, but any confidence may be tempered by the fact that the Yellow and Blues have only managed one victory from their last nine away group games (D2, L6) in continental football.[/p]
[p]Key battle: Forward Adam Wilson, back on loan at TNS from Bradford, scored four against Llangollen and has now won seven of the last ten games in which he’s netted (D1, L2). The main attacking threat for Astana may come from Marin Tomasov, who has seen five of his previous seven Conference League goals serve as the first or last of the match, with six coming after half-time. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Only three of Astana’s last ten outings have seen both teams score.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]