Mjallby AIF are deep in an Allsvenskan crisis following another loss this week. The club, who are the reigning Swedish champions, lost 0-2 to Djurgården on Thursday evening, marking their second consecutive defeat in a short period.
According to a report by Expressen Sport, the team has won only one match since May 9, when they defeated Degerfors. This prolonged slump has pushed Mjallby down to 12th place in the table, just above the relegation playoff zone. With 20 points from 17 games, a record of five wins, five draws and seven losses, the situation is serious. The team's recent form is LWLLD and they are a full 22 points behind league leaders Sirius.
Why has the form turned so dramatically?
Despite winning the spring cup and the title last season, this year's Allsvenskan campaign has gone awry. Head coach Aksum points to a pattern where the team's intensity drops in the second half. "Our first-half approach matches my expectations, but the intensity falls in the second half," he said after the match against Djurgården. Aksum also noted that the top teams punish Mjallby severely when given opportunities.
The veteran centre-back Tom Pettersson is clear about the issue. "If you concede cheap goals, it becomes really tough to win matches," he stated. The defensive insecurity is reflected in the season's numbers: Mjallby have conceded 27 goals and scored 24, giving them a goal difference of minus three. You can follow the team's defensive statistics on our stats page.
Does the club still back coach Aksum?
Sporting director Hasse Larsson has confirmed that confidence in head coach Aksum remains intact. Tom Pettersson also supports the leadership and suggested a broader timeframe for evaluation. "It's obviously not a good situation. I'm not going to stand here and say we can't be relegated, because we really can," said Pettersson, but he pointed out that one should look at Aksum's performance since he joined as an assistant coach in 2024.
Aksum himself does not accept that losses to top sides are sufficient. He said that even better teams lose to the best, but that it's not enough to just beat one of Sweden's top teams. The backing from management is clear, but the pressure mounts with every dropped point. For a complete overview of the squad, visit our squad page.
What happens next for Mjallby?
The immediate challenge is to break the negative trend. The next Allsvenskan match is away against Vasteras SK FK on October 18. Vasteras are in a stable eighth place, making it a tough away fixture. Before that, the team has time to recover and work on the identified problems.
The league position demands immediate action. With such form, every match is important to stay above the line. You can follow the tense run-in against relegation on our standings page. Mjallby's next Allsvenskan fixture is on October 18, 2026, away against Vasteras SK FK.
