Friday 01/08/2014, 20:45, Ireland Premier League, Round 21, Limerick vs Shamrock Rovers

Limerick vs Shamrock Rovers Betting Preview

Limerick is still dangerously close to the relegation area and the only thing that keeps them afloat is the awful form of their rivals. Winning on the road has been virtually impossible, but luckily for them they managed to accumulate six points in front of their fans over the last three rounds. Their defenses will be put to the test tonight when Shamrock Rovers come visiting, a team that won four games in a row on the road, including one Irish Cup match.

Limerick vs Shamrock Rovers Betting Odds

At Bet365

Limerick 6.00, Draw 3.60, Shamrock Rovers 1.60

Limerick vs Shamrock Rovers Betting Tips

Shamrock Rovers won back-to-back games without allowing a goal, before succumbing to Drogheda United in the last round. The defeat was downright puzzling, as the hosts looked toothless and allowed the visitors to take the initiative and dominate the match even after scoring the first goal.

After Drogheda took the lead, and they decided to stick to their initial strategy, which demanded them to defend with five players. Shamrock Rovers was expected to shift into a more aggressive gear at least in the second half, but they played like they were leading the match.

They need to recuperate those three points on the road if they are to keep their theoretical chances alive and remain within striking distance of the leader. At the time of writing, they are trading Dundalk by nine points, but the leaders are playing a difficult match on the road against Cork City who hasn't lost a home match in 2014.

Limerick lost many games on the road in July, but prevailed in 2 to 3 matches played in front of their fans, which is a decently strong percentage for a team threatened with relegation. They would gladly settle for one point tonight and this is reflected by the starting formation, which features five defenders and a single striker, Gaffney.

Key Facts

• Limerick is not in great form, but they have a winning record at home against Shamrock Rovers, having won 3/5 games.
• In the last five games, Shamrock Rovers won just twice despite having home pitch advantage in four of those matches.

Limerick vs Shamrock Rovers Betting Prediction

The visitors are well positioned for a narrow margin victory on the road, but the odds offered by bookmakers are simply too low to consider. In order to mitigate the risks, punters should take the 1:0 Asian Handicap and back the hosts at 1.75. What these odds mean is that if the visitors prevail by exactly one goal the stakes are returned, which pretty much covers the risks.

Bet: Limerick +1:0 Asian Handicap @ 1.75 with Bet365