Sandefjord fought gallantly this autumn to avoid a relegation that was always on the cards since early summer, but in the end it was just a bridge too far for them as they were relegated with a game to spare. It was disappointing for Marti Cifuentes and the team, but they will be very happy with how they fought to the end.
They gambled on Magnus Powell before the start of the season, and quickly found out that was a disastrous mistake. Incredibly it took them far too long to employ a successor and by the time Cifuentes took the reigns it was too late. The calmness and stability under Lars Bohinen was so quickly swept away, and that will be disappointing for the club.
They only lost two of their last ten games, and would've had real survival chances had they won more of the drawn games this autumn. A string of five draws really killed their momentum, and it could've been so different if they managed to hold onto leads better.
Rufo was another revelation and had he been at the club for the entire campaign they would've surely made a stronger claim for one of the safe spots. But Sandefjord need to keep hold of their better players if they are to go straight back up as the OBOS ligaen gets ever stronger.
