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Current champions St. Patrick’s Athletic will host Bray Wanderers at Richmond Park in the first matchday after the 2 week mid-season break in Ireland.
St. Patrick’s had a great campaign last year, winning the league, and are in the hunt for the first place again. But they need a win against Bray, because the hosts are just 3rd in the table and already 6 points behind the leaders after 17 rounds, so they can’t afford losing points at home. Richmond Park has been a fortress for St. Patrick’s this season: 7 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss and an amazing 27-12 goal difference … scoring an average of exactly 3 goals per game. St. Patrick’s won 6 consecutive home games in all competitions and the last two matches ended 5-2 and 6-0 vs. Derry City and Drogheda, teams similar to Bray.
St Patrick’s had an important friendly vs Aberdeen a couple of days ago, it ended 2-2 and the manager was very pleased with the level of football. For today the hosts will miss Browne, Oman and possibly Hoare.
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Bet with the best odds and highest limits at Pinnacle. |
The visitors are on the 8th place at the moment and have gained only 1 point in the last 4 games, so they are in very poor form. Bray Wanderers will hope to avoid last season’s scenario when they finished second to last and needed a playout to remain in the Ireland top division. Bray is one of the most defensive minded teams in the league. They concede enough goals (1,5 goals per game), but simply can’t score: in the last 5 games they did not score a single goal. They have by far the worst offense in the league and one of the worst goal differences as well.
St. Patrick’s has been brilliant at home, playing excellent football and have everything they need to record a comfortable win today. They are a much better team than Bray and in much better form as well. They have an amazing goalscoring record at home, while Bray has a poor goal difference and can lose big. I see the hosts netting a couple of goals again at Richmond Park, and considering Bray’s struggle, it might well be a win to nil. In these conditions a 1 goal handicap should be covered without too much sweat. Earlier in the season when the two teams met, St. Patrick’s won 3-1 on the road (making it 4 wins in a row against Bray). I bet they will make it 5 today and my tip is St Patricks to win with 1,5 handicap. The simple win at 1.25 does not have much value but it can be safe combo material. Correct score prediction: St Patrick’s Athletic – Bray Wanderers 3-0.
Pick: St. Patrick’s (-1,5)
Odds: 1.79 @ Pinnacle
Stake: 9
Possible profit: 7.11
Event date: 27 June
