Preview: Konyaspor vs. Pendikspor - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors arrive in Konya still winless after their first eight games in the top flight, leading to the sacking of Osman Ozkoylu during the international break, while the home side's last victory came at the beginning of September.

Match preview

After two straight defeats - a 2-0 home loss to Besiktas and a 3-1 away loss to Hatayspor - Konyaspor are now winless in four games and sit just above the relegation zone with nine points.

The two consecutive defeats followed two more winless performances as Aleksandar Stanojevic's side drew 1-1 away to Ankaragucu and suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Caykur Rizespor.

The deterioration in performance was quite unexpected, as Konyaspor started in the Super Lig with a four-game unbeaten run in the first four weeks, with draws against Istanbulspor and Antalyaspor, and then two straight wins against Gaziantep and Istanbul Basaksehir with two clean sheets.

Although confidence is not high at the moment, Pendikspor could be the perfect opponent to get back on track with the help of the home crowd.

Visiting side Pendikspor have had little to cheer about since making it to the top flight, as they currently find themselves in the relegation zone and are one of three teams still without a win after eight games.

Three of their last four matches have been losses, including two straight defeats to Trabzonspor and Sivasspor, the latter of which brought an end to Ozkoylu's two-year reign just months after he steered them into the Super Lig for the first time in their history.

Portuguese managerial journeyman Vieira is the man that has been entrusted to oversee an improvement, and with only two points separating them from safety, the ultimate goal of survival this season is still very much a realistic one at this early stage of the campaign.

The biggest issue to fix first and foremost will be Pendikspor's defensive record; with 17 goals conceded in eight games, they have the worst defensive record in the league at this stage of the season.

A first Super Lig clean sheet - and first in any competition since April 16 - would be an ideal start for Vieira, particularly if coupled with a win, but Konyaspor have scored in three of their four home games this season and so will not be a straightforward team to keep at bay.

Konyaspor Turkish Super Lig form:

W

W

L

D

L

L

Pendikspor Turkish Super Lig form:

D

D

L

D

L

L

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Team News

The home team have fewer absentees ahead of Saturday's match, with Bruno Paz and Muhammet Demir the only two players unavailable.

Paz suffered an injury in the 1-0 away win against Basaksehir and has not featured since, leaving Steven N'Zonzi to partner Soner Dikmen in Konyaspor's central midfield.

Sokol Cikalleshi is the team's biggest attacking force with three goals in eight games and will try to prove his goalscoring qualities on Saturday as well.

Pendikspor are a little less fortunate when it comes to injury woes, with four players currently out, three of whom are usually in the starting XI.

Central defender Welinton and midfielders Oscar Romero and Khadim Rassoul are the main absentees who would really strengthen the team in search of its first win of the season.

Konyaspor possible starting lineup:

Bernardoni; Oguz, Demirbag, Calvo, Sitya; Dikmen, N'Zonzi, Prip, Cicaldau, Moreno; Cikalleshi

Pendikspor possible starting lineup:

Canpolat; Asan, Sulungoz, Akca, Sequeira; Lusamba, Vukovic, Midtsjo, Cekici, Akbunar; Thuram

We say: Konyaspor 2-0 Pendikspor

Pendikspor have lost their last two away games and, considering they are missing some key players for this one, it will be extremely difficult for them to get their first win of the season this Saturday even with a new-manager bounce.

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