Koln vs SC Paderborn 07 preview

Posted Friday, February 06, 2015 by PA

Cologne get another chance to improve their home form this Saturday when they welcome Paderborn to the Mungersdorfer Stadion.

Wednesday's 0-0 draw with Stuttgart meant Cologne have picked up only seven points from their nine home matches so far this season.

The home fans have witnessed four scoreless draws and only four goals netted by the Goats, who have conceded eight with only one win.

Paderborn's record on their travels is no better, though, with six points from their nine ventures away from East Westphalia and, with that in mind, Cologne will be keen to pick up their second home win of the campaign this weekend to prove they can perform to their audience.

"If we don't get it right again, then we're going to have the same story again ahead of our next home game in a fortnight's time," coach Peter Stoger said in the Express newspaper.

"All we can do is make sure what we plan to do comes off better. Sometimes it works better than at other times."

Bidding to help them improve their home form could be 19-year-old Norwegian forward Bard Finne, who impressed as a substitute against Stuttgart.

"He had chances to decide the game in positions where he usually shows his strength," Stoger said.

"Unfortunately he didn't reward himself, but he did well."

Their opponents Paderborn have started 2015 in the worst possible of ways, losing 5-0 at Mainz before going down 3-0 to Hamburg in midweek.

That has strengthened their resolve, however, with coach Andre Breitenreiter certain his side will show improvements at the weekend.

"We want to play like one tight unit," he said at a press conference. "That is why we're going to consider which players are 100 per cent committed to the cause when we pick the team.

"We're going to be courageous."