Seeley’s Selections – Republic Of Ireland v Scotland

It’s the big one, the one you’ve all been waiting for, but sometimes the big ones aren’t always the best ones and that is exactly what I fear when Ireland entertain Scotland in the Euro 2016 vital qualifier at the Aviva on Saturday.

A defeat for the Irish will surely end any hopes they have of making it to next summer’s final and it’s a game that they have to take to the Scots from the first whistle.

The one thing I’m certain of in this one is that it’s going to be very, very tight.
The two met in Glasgow last November, which was surprisingly a decent match. The Scots just edged that 1-0 thanks to Shaun Maloney’s strike and goals will certainly be at a premium in Dublin again on Saturday night.

BoyleSports are expecting to see a flood of patriotic Euros for the Irish at 7/5, but with just one win in their last five internationals, as a neutral I’m advising you to keep your money in your pocket.

The Irish played their part in the dross that was served up in last weekend’s 0-0 draw with England and Scotland weren’t much better in their 1-0 win against the mighty Qatar.

It’s no surprise to me that BoyleSports have Scotland as an industry best 5/2 to do the qualification double over the Irish as you have to be a very brave man to walk into one of their shops and hand the slip over with a Scotland win and an even braver man to go back and pick up the winnings.

I’m expecting the Scots to park a tartan bus at the Aviva and I’m really not sure if the Irish are good enough to get past it. I really like the 11/5 with BoyleSports – who are again an industry best – on this game being a draw. That isn’t going to please readers but it will buy you a few pints of the black stuff to get over the disappointment at the weekend.

As I said earlier in the piece, this is going to be tight and very, very cagey. Even at a shorter than usual 8/15 on under 2.5 goals to feature at the Aviva; this is a must for the big hitters.

Four of the last seven Scotland games have featured less than three goals and that market has been a winner in four of the last five Ireland games.

In the last eight internationals between these two nations, seven of them have seen under 2.5 goals and also seven have seen both teams failing to score. At the slightly bigger 8/11 with BoyleSports, that is also a bet I like a lot.

Remember, BoyleSports will be offering the very popular Double Bubble bonus on this game where they will double the odds on any first goalscorer winning selection if your player scores inside the opening 20 minutes.

Robbie Keane is always a popular choice and Ireland’s record scorer will be again at 6/1 with BoyleSports, but I really can’t see the deadlock being broken and I’m all over the 6/1 with BoyleSports on no goalscorer.

B Lucky!

Seeley’s Selections:
Draw @ 11/5
Under 2.5 Goals @ 8/11
Both Teams To Score – No @ 8/11
No Goalscorer @ 6/1

*Prices correct at time of publication