Friday 18/07/2014, 21:00, Ireland Premier League, Round 20, Bray Wanderers vs Shamrock Rovers

Bray Wanderers vs Shamrock Rovers Betting Preview

Bray Wanderers are plummeting through the standings and they have recently sank into the relegation area, after losing nine of the last 10 games.

Home pitch advantage was not enough to keep them afloat and it is very likely to make no difference tonight when they welcome Shamrock Rovers. The visitors are not exactly the best traveling team but they know opportunity when they see it and will not accept anything less than three points from this encounter.

Bray Wanderers vs Shamrock Rovers Betting Odds

At Paddy Power

Bray Wanderers 8.00, Draw 4.50, Shamrock Rovers 1.40

Bray Wanderers vs Shamrock Rovers Betting Tips

There is no obvious reason for why Bray Wanderers sank into near irrelevance over the last couple of weeks, with no significant injuries hampering their efforts. The problems appear to be systemic, but at the top of the list sits the inability to keep clean sheets or even limit the number of goals scored by their opponents. In exactly one month, they've lost two games by 5-0 and allowed six more in two other defeats

Things are clearly going from bad to worse for the hosts and with nothing going their way, even a draw in front of their fans would be cheered as a major victory. Expectations are as low as they get and this explains why manager Matthews will only use Scully upfront, while relying on five defenders.

Shamrock Rovers will run into steep opposition but they are entitled to expect few problems in their own half, which should leave them with plenty of time to push forward. They are not the most consistent side either, and only managed to win consecutive games once in the last two months. On the road they normally settle for a single point but tonight is the exception and the visitors will send both McCabe and Kilduff upfront, hoping that the hosts' defenses will crack under pressure.

Key Facts

• Shamrock Rovers only won half of the games played over the last month, but met three of the best teams in the Irish Premier League
• Bray Wanderers are mired in a six game losing streak and have allowed a combined 18 goals while scoring five

Bray Wanderers vs Shamrock Rovers Betting Prediction

While there is no value in the odds offered for Shamrock Rovers to win on the road, it is simply too risky to trust them to win by two goals or more. A far better choice is to bet on the visitors to lead at half time and emerge victorious, as Paddy Power still offers even odds for this wager.

Bet: Shamrock Rovers Half time/Full time @ 2.00 with Paddy Power