Saturday 05/07/2014, 20:30, Ireland Premier League, Round 18, Shamrock Rovers vs St Patrick's

Shamrock Rovers vs St Patrick's Betting Preview

One of the most anticipated matches of the week is the one between Shamrock Rovers and St. Patrick's, teams that are competing for a place on the podium. The one that loses tonight will be virtually eliminated from the race to win the championship, so the stakes are as high as they get. They trail the leader by four and six points, with Shamrock Rovers having one game in hand, but the one who loses will have to fight an uphill battle in the remaining rounds.

Shamrock Rovers vs St Patrick's Betting Odds

At Ladbrokes

Shamrock Rovers 2.60, Draw 3.20, St Patrick's 2.80

Shamrock Rovers vs St Patrick's Betting Tips

The Premier League went on with very few interruptions and the World Cup didn't have a major impact on the Irish top flight. At the top of the standings, Dundalk and Cork City are flying high, while Shamrock Rovers and St. Patrick's are simply trying to close the gap.

The latter can be really proud of their recent results, having lost a single match in the last 10 rounds and winning on six occasions. Their offensive is finally kicking and after half a season marked by mediocre results and very few opportunities to score, they are once again a dominating squad.

Home pitch advantage is what keeps them afloat, with St. Patrick's winning 8/10 games, the best record in the Premier League. On the road they have been far less effective, having won just twice, but luckily for them they face an opponent that has plenty of pressing matters to resolve. Shamrock Rovers lost the last match played in front of its fans and the fact that they were defeated by Cork City is a pale consolation.

On the other hand, the hosts can brag about a rock-solid defense, as they allowed no goal in the other four games played over the last month. A prudent approach with five midfielders and a single striker helped them stay in the first half so far, but if they aim higher than this, they will need to take some chances.

Key Facts

• St. Patrick's defeated Shamrock Rovers twice this year, each time by 1-0
• The visitors have a narrow advantage in the head to head games, having won 14 games and losing 12.

Shamrock Rovers vs St Patrick's Betting Prediction

St. Patrick's need a victory on the road to close the gap separating them from the leaders, but they might settle for a draw away from home. They lost a single match in seven games played on other stadiums and have a fairly solid track record when playing against Shamrock Rovers. This is why the draw no bet wager is by far the best choice for those risk-averse punters who intend to bet on this match.

Bet: St Patrick's Draw no Bet @ 1.90 with Ladbrokes