Trans close in on Estonian record

With four rounds to go, FC TVMK Tallinn are leading FC Levadia Tallinn by six points at the top of the Estonian table, but JK Trans Narva have been taking their share of the headlines.

Clean sheets
The club are currently in third place, three points ahead of fourth-placed FC Flora, and have not conceded a goal since 14 August. Valeri Bondarenko's men have now equalled the record set by FC Tevalte Tallinn and Flora who went eight games without conceding eleven and eight years ago respectively.

Ussoltsev record
Should the Trans defence remain unbreached in their next match they will set a new record while goalkeeper Sergei Ussoltsev need only keep a clean sheet for another 17 minutes to break Estonian legend Mart Poom's all-time record of 756 minutes without conceding. Had Trans' 5-0 victory against JK Tulevik Viljandi not been awarded as a win to their opponents by the Estonian Football Association because the club had fielded a suspended player, Trans and Ussoltsev would have broken those two records by now.

Massive fixture
Back on 2 October, one of the most significant fixtures of the season saw TVMK win 2-1 against their nearest rivals Levadia, although their eight-point lead was subsequently reduced to six after the league leaders were held to a goalless draw by Trans. TVMK's Lithuanian striker Egidijus Juška opened the scoring after 14 minutes against Levadia, heading captain Andrei Borissov's free-kick past goalkeeper Artur Kotenko. Borissov's pass then sent Tarmo Neemelo clear on 57 minutes, and although he was fouled in the penalty area, he still managed to score TVMK's second goal.

Attacking change
Levadia head coach Tarmo Rüütli sent centre-back Vitoldas Čepauskas forward to bolster his attacking lines and the risk paid dividends in the 66th minute as the giant Lithuanian caught TVMK goalkeeper Vitali Teleš off his line and sent a fantastic lob over him to cut the deficit. However, TVMK held firm to win.

Rautiainen hired
Meanwhile, on 16 October, Flora named Pasi Rautiainen as the coach who will lead them for the next three seasons. The 44-year-old Finn formerly coached Meistriliiga side FC Levadia Maardu - now Levadia Tallinn - leading them to runners-up slot in 2002. The former FC Bayern München player will take over from Janno Kivisild, who replaced Dutchmen Arno Pijpers for the 2005 season. In 2006, Flora will seek their eighth title since Estonia regained independence.