Seeley’s Selections – Scotland v Northern Ireland

It’s a busy week of international football for BoyleSports punters and it all starts on Wednesday night with a totally pointless friendly at Hampden Park between Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Both of these sides have a great chance of making the Euro 2016 finals next summer, so why on earth are they playing in this one ahead of a couple of massive qualification matches at the weekend?

Scotland are BoyleSports’ 3/4 favourites, which I do like the look of as they face group minnows Gibraltar on Sunday and whatever team Gordon Strachan puts out in that one they are certain to get maximum points.

Northern Ireland on the other hand have a crucial Group F clash at home to Finland and, even at the odds of 17/4, I can’t make a case for them at all for this one.
Manager Michael O’Neil looks certain to rest players ahead of the big one on Sunday and I can’t believe he will risk many that will feature against Finland for this one.

One thing you can always pretty much guarantee when these two play is not many goals.

In Scotland’s last six home matches, five of them have seen under 2.5 goals scored and in Northern Ireland’s last 10 internationals, nine game produced less than under 2.5 again and at BoyleSports’ 4/7 that’s short, but it looks a certainty in a match which neither nation really wants to be playing in.

In the last eight internationals between this pair remarkably SEVEN have seen only one team scoring, usually Scotland, and at 4/6 with BoyleSports on both teams failing to score, that again is another excellent wager.

These two nations haven’t played a lot of matches in recent years, but in their last five games in Scotland the visitors have never scored and I don’t think they will again on Wednesday.

This Scottish side is very solid defensively at Hampden Park with only England scoring against them in their last three home internationals and they won the other two to nil and a Scotland win to nil at 6/4 with BoyleSpors is on my bet radar.

Scotland beat Georgia and Republic of Ireland both 1-0 at home recently and another 1-0 home win at 9/2 with BoyleSports would be my idea of a correct-score.

It’s pretty difficult to second guess each sides starting XI but I do expect the home team to be much the stronger and I’m taking a chance on James McArthur at 14/1 with BoyleSports to score the opener.

Seeley’s Selections:
Under 2.5 Goals @ 4/7
Both Teams To Score: No @ 4/6
Scotland To Win To Nil @ 6/4
Correct Score: Scotland 1:0 Northern Ireland @ 9/2
First Goalscorer: James McArthur @ 14/1