VPS - TPS preview

VPS (8th) – TPS (2nd)

VPS: 1-0-3-0-3-3

TPS: 1-3-1-1-3-3
H2H: 3-7-10

Last game 17.05.09 TPS – VPS 2-0
Two teams in top form meet at Vaasa on Sunday when VPS host TPS Turku nad try to narrow the 8 points lead by TPS. Last week at the so called derby round both managed to get a win, VPS 1-3 against local rivals Jaro and TPS quite easily thrashed Inter Turku 2-0. ”For me this is a bit of a special game”, says TPS defender Iiro Aalto, ” because my brother Jussi plays for VPS. No mercy will be given from either of us, and VPS is definitely one of the best home teams in the league and we need to give 100 % to get a good result, ” he continues.
TPS have no injury worries ahead of the game except long-term patient Simo Valakari, but for their talismanic help from Fulham midfielder Wayne Brown this is the last game at TPS as his loan expires and Brown returns to Fulham after the trip to Vaasa.

VPS know exactly how well TPS Turku hve played lately and how strong they are mentally after a long and succesful run;” We need to get the best of us to win”, admits VPS striker Antonio Inutile, ” we need to be aggressive, tight in the defence and keep the ball on the ground. It is time to be brave and challenge them with their own weapons. Our performances have been the best for us for years, and we will continue with attacking football also against TPS.”
No new injury worries for VPS.



VPS: 1 Henri Sillanpää 14/0 - 8 Jani Lyyski 18/2 – 4 Jussi Äijälä 13/0 – 19 Jan Berg 18/0 – 3 Lawrence Smith 14/2 – 7 Tero Koskela 16/1 – 14 Jens Nygård 18/3 - 22 Tony Björk 18/2 - 10 Antonio Inutile 17/4 – 23 Jyri Hietaharju 17/1 - 20 Rikard Lindroos 13/2

Bench: 9 Jussi Aalto 11/1, 25 Pekka Kainu 13/0, 12 Henrik Moisander (gk) 6/0, 6 Petteri Forsell 10/1, 11 Toni Hahto 12/0

Unavailable: 2 Jan Ahlvik 0/0 & 24 Benjamin Slotte 0/0, 16 Jyrki Saranpää 14/1, 17 Juho Alasuutari 4/0 left the team and returned to YPA at Kakkonen,

Coaches: Juha Reini & Petri Vuorinen

TPS: 12 Jukka Lehtovaara 17/0 – 2 Iiro Aalto 17/0 – 18 Chris Cleaver 14/0 - 6 Jaakko Nyberg 17/2 - 7 Sami Rähmönen 18/0 – 8 Jarno Heinikangas 18/0 – 9 Mikko Manninen 17/0 – 14 Kasper Hämäläinen 17/0 – 28 Mikko Paatelainen 18/3 – 20 Babatunde Wusu 17/6 - 21 Wayne Brown 18/5

Bench: 3 Kalle Mäkinen 0/0, 4 Igor Jovanovic 1/0, 11 Mika Ääritalo 8/3, 17 Roope Riski 0/0, 29 Yll Hoxha 6/0, 23 Juho Lähde 0/0, 24 Jani Aaltonen 0/0, 25 Santeri Mäkinen 0/0, 27 Tuomas Markkula 0/0, 31 Alban Ferati 0/0, 1 Jani Tuomala (gk) 1/0, 10 Riku Riski 17/4

Out:13 Samu-Petteri Mäkelä 8/0 (return to PoPa), 5 Simo Valakari 7/0, 9 Patrik Lomski 6/0 (loan to KPV), 22 Jesse Saarinen 0/0 (loan to KPV)


Coach: Pasi Rautiainen

Betting analysis to follow earliest on sunday if at all