Molde prepared for their Europa League tie against Celtic with a comfortable 3-1 win at home to second bottom Mjondalen.
Despite the win Molde are stuck in seventh place- nine points adrift of a European spot for next season with champions elect Rosenborg 19 points ahead and needing just a point to claim the title.
While their domestic form has been poor Molde have excelled in Europe, knocking Standard Liege out in a Europa League play-off and taking four points off Fenerbahce and Ajax in their opening matches.
After watching yesterday’s win coach Erling Moe said: “I am very pleased with the performance in the second half, we did more than was needed. We turned the game and put Mjondalen under pressure although they made it difficult for us.”
After being ahead against Ajax and Fenerbahce and having to settle for a draw in each match the focus will be on the Celtic defence when Ronny Deila returns to Norway.
The hoops boss won’t need to do too much homework to get upto speed on Thursday’s opponents who he has described as the best side in Norway over the last five years- despite guiding Stromsgodset to a title success in 2013.
“Obviously it has been difficult for the defence when we have not had a set back four,” said Tlyer Blackett who played alongside Dedryck Boyata in the win over Motherwell. “We need time to get used to each other and get used to how each other plays but once we get that I am sure the results will improve and the performances will improve.
“Molde is a big game for the club, we are trying to get the points in Europe as well as home in the league. We have got to try to push on, replicate the performance we had against Motherwell and get a result in the end.
“It is a chance to go and perform and try to improve on the performances we have had so far. We have tried to do bits in training, individually and as a team. So we are trying to do our best, trying to improve everyday.”
Goals: 1-0 Ola Kamara (54), 2-0 Sander Svendsen (63), 2-1 Tokmac Nguen (79), 3.1 Harmeet Singh (86).
Molde (4-3-3): Ethan Horvath – Martin Linne, Joona Toivio, Vegard Forren, Per Egil Flo – Etzaz Hussain (Mohamed Elyounoussi from 61), Harmeet Singh, Eirik Hestad (Daniel Berg Hestad from 75.) – Mattias Moström Ola Kamara (Mushaga Bakenga from 70), Sander Svendsen.
