*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Sligo Rovers and Shels are two very proud clubs who have had very different decades and yet the nature of this league means that you can fairly much rip up the history books and press reset every single year.
Some people hate that, but I kind of like it.
Following Liam Buckley’s departure mid-season, Sligo have gone with a youthful approach in adopting club stalwart John Russell and the Galway native has gone about his job in decent fashion. But we know all about new manager bounces and how we have the consider them when factoring in pricing.
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Saturday 7:45pm: Sligo Rovers v Shelbourne
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Yes, Sligo are a good side and Shels are newly-promoted but the first meeting of these two in the league will tell you all you need to know. Shels are dogged and Sligo are too nice. It’s a touch of a cliché but it’s been like that, identity-wise, for a while now.
Damien Duff was a much-debated appointment early doors but Shels have become a team you really can’t back against in this league, while Sligo’s soft underbelly and post-manager bounce need to be warned about.
Is this an opportunity to jump on a psychological advantage? Let’s chance it with a Bet Builder.
*A Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 22/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Shelbourne to Win
Looking at their last five games, you might wonder why I’m so high on them – but this needs context. A draw with Dundalk is the third-best result you get in the league this season, especially with how limited they were in attacking areas.
That loss to Bohs might seem poor in context, but the Gypsies were down to ten with half an hour to go and sat in. Shels are used to exploiting space quickly being newly-promoted but their build-up against low block isn’t what they’re practicing in sessions. This is a different test.
Both Teams to Score: Yes
Sligo have failed to score once in their last 12 games. Once. And because that was their last game, there’s a touch of recency bias about it – but it was against Drogheda, in Drogheda. If you’re a long-time reader of these columns, you’ll know there’s only two places in the universe where things don’t make sense – Middle Earth and Drogheda.
Weirdly, they look and smell quite similar. Shels have failed to net in each of their last three games but their build-up play had been gradually improving week on week before facing a tough sled of fixtures. They’re better away from home, too.
Sean Boyd to Score Anytime
In games away from home in this league, you want a striker who can finish from a number of different angles.
For all that Boyd lacks pace, he’s clever enough to find an angle and finish – and that’s what Shels will rely on when their opportunities will be limited.
Half-Time – Shelbourne
Shels’ results have generally been poor because of their first half displays this season. Only UCD have scored fewer goals in the opening 45 than the Reds this year in the Irish top tier, while Sligo generally get poorer after the break.
These numbers are clearly outliers and that will eventually shift.
Sligo Rovers v Shelbourne betting tips:
Shelbourne to Win
Both Teams to Score
Sean Boyd to Score Anytime
Half-Time – Shelbourne
*A Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 22/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
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*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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