Preview: Le Havre vs. Clermont - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors, meanwhile, are still searching for their first win of the season after picking up just one point from their opening five games.

Match preview

After winning promotion from the second tier, Le Havre have made a steady start to their first top-flight campaign since the 2008-09 season.

Le Havre mustered two points from their opening three games, before they thrashed Lorient 3-0 to claim their first win of the campaign.

They followed their maiden victory with a goalless encounter against Lyon last weekend, ensuring all three of their away league games this season have finished all square.

Having claimed consecutive clean sheets, Le Havre are showing signs of producing the sort of form that saw them finish last season with the best defensive record in Ligue 2.

They will now turn their attention to Sunday's contest, where they will have the chance to claim consecutive victories in the same season for the first time since February 2003.

After finishing in eighth place to achieve their best-ever league finish last term, Clermont have been unable to match that success in the opening stages of the new season.

The campaign started with three consecutive defeats against Monaco, Reims and Metz, before they finally got on the board with a 2-2 draw against Toulouse.

However, they fell to another loss in their home meeting with Nantes last weekend, as Moses Simon scored the decisive goal to condemn Pascal Gastien's side to a narrow 1-0 defeat.

As one of three teams yet to win a Ligue 1 game this season, Clermont are languishing in the bottom three with four points separating them from safety.

The hosts can at least draw confidence from the fact they have avoided defeat in each of their last six competitive meetings with Le Havre.

Le Havre Ligue 1 form:

D

L

D

W

D

Clermont Ligue 1 form:

L

L

L

D

L

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Team News

Oussama Targhalline has been absent from the Le Havre squad for the last three matches with an injury issue, and he remains a doubt for Sunday's encounter.

After picking up a useful point against Lyon, Elsner could opt for continuity and name an unchanged starting lineup.

Should the Le Havre boss decide to select the same starting XI, Lille loanee Mohamed Bayo will retain his place up front after making his first start for the club last weekend.

As for the visitors, Jeremie Bela is expected to miss out due to illness, while Komnen Andric is a doubt after missing the defeat to Nantes.

After dropping down to the bench for Clermont's last two matches, Jim Allevinah could return to the starting lineup for the trip to Le Havre.

Shamar Nicholson made his Clermont debut as a substitute last weekend, and he may have to settle for a place on the bench once again.

Le Havre possible starting lineup:

Desmas; Salmier, Sangante, Lloris, Operi; Toure, Kechta; Casimir, Kuzyaev, Alioui; Bayo

Clermont possible starting lineup:

Diaw; Seidu, Pelmard, Caufriez; Zeffane, Gonalons, Gastien, Borges; Cham; Allevinah; Kyei

We say: Le Havre 2-1 Clermont

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