Ireland - 1. Division, 30th May
May 29, 2008
20:45 Limerick - Waterford
Pick: Over 2.25
Stake: 6/10
Odds: 1.94
Bookmaker: Pinnacle
Two teams with same home/away records meet. Limerick is W2-D1-L3 8:11 at home, while Waterford has same away record, but with goal difference of 5:7. However, their overall records are totally different - Limerick is 6th with 14 pts, while Waterford is third with 10 points more, trailing leading duo with four and six points respectively.
Limerick is team that i’m not keen to back. They lack quality and oscilate from match to match. However, their home games are usually goal fests as their last under 2,5 home match was their opening game vs Wexford (2:0). So far they’ve scored in every home game except one against Shelbourne (0:3), team with the best defense in league. On the other side, Limerick has one of the worst defenses in the league (1,61 gls per match) and i can see both teams scoring tomorrow.
I would consider backing Waterford, but with their current form and five players missing i decided that better bet here is over bet. Waterford defense lately is shaky, they are much weaker away then at home and i think Limerick will shake them few times. For tomorrows match they will have few important missings, starting from first goalie Packie Holden who is still on honeymoon, then two suspended defenders - Quigley and Browne, another defender who is lost till the end of season with broken ankle, Paul McCarthy, to Dave Warren, whose status is still unconfirmed after he was substituted in last match after an injury.
That weakness Waterford defensive part while it leaves their attack sharp as always, with Sullivan and John Kiely. I can see hosts scoring one, or even two, while Waterford should be able to deliver one or two themselves.
Predicted score: 2:2
——————————————————————————
20:45 Bray - Shamrock
Pick: Bray (-0.25)
Stake: 7/10
Odds: 2.23
Bookmaker: Pinnacle
Again i’m against Shamrock, which already twice ruined my bets. With four draws in a row they’ve equalized Cork’s record in this season and i can’t see them staying unbeaten again. Nine games without a win, with poor displays and troubles with injuries should make some effects on players, and although they’ve picked five points in last seven games they are slowly going down on table. For tomorrows match they will again have same (if not bigger) problems with squad missing Dessie Baker, Chris Mulhall, Stephen Rice, John Martin, Robbie Creevy, Aidan Price, Pat Flynn, Ger O’Brien and Darren Stapleton. That extends their number of absent players to nine and i highly doubt that they will once again “come from dead” and pick a point or even all three. In last match against Cork they were extremely lucky not to concede few more, getting equalizer in last ten minutes of the match, against the run of play.
Bray is IMO brightest surprise in Premier League. Team that was expected to fight against relegation is currently on 7th place, with only two points dividing them from no. 4. At home they were extremely good so far, with W4-D0-L3 4:8, having won four consecutive games with 1:0 result before failing to Cork City in 0:3 defeat just a week ago. In mid week they’ve played in Dublin against UCD, getting a point when they deserved to take all three. UCD scored their 2nd from a controversal penalty that was discussed few days afterwards. Anyway, with that point they’ve ended their two games losing streak and could again put a nice performance against injured troubled opponent. For this match they will again miss first goalkeeper O’Connor and midfielder Gary McCabe. As a substitute for O’Connor Gough was brought to team just ten days ago (already played two games), while McCabe isn’t first team regular.
Conclusion: I think that even Barcelona or Manchester Utd would have problems when nine players would miss three or four rounds. Shamrock certainly does have problems as they look really poor, but with some twist of faith and/or luck they managed to stay unbeaten against teams like Drogheda and Cork. This time i think it injuries could finally take their costs and Rovers will lose. Bray had one bright period of six games with five wins and draw, since then they are in bit downtrend, but their last performance looked good and they are back on track. Home win for me.
Predicted score: 1:0
Picks by Scythe in Factory Forums
Also visit Scythe’s website @ http://scythe.blogabet.com/
Comments
You have something to say?
