S.P.Read Esq: Scotland v Northern Ireland

Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq. looks ahead to the International Friendly on Wednesday between SCOTLAND v NORTHERN IRELAND and finds the best opportunities available on Star Spreads, the home of sports spread betting.

BIG WIN LAST NIGHT !!

I sold the time of the first goal at 40 minutes last night with Star Spreads in the Luton v Wycombe game and had to wait just three minutes for Sam Saunders to put Wycombe ahead.

THE PROFIT ON THE COLUMN IN MARCH HAS NOW MOVED ON TO 1,238 POINTS !!!!

There are lies, damned lies and statistics so take this with a pinch of Saxa but Northern Ireland have only managed to beat Scotland once in nine previous head to heads. But when the stats go back as far as 1953 just how relevant they are in terms of a match in 2015 is, of course, another matter entirely.

The first key point to make tonight is that it is a ‘friendly’. A word that should send a wealth warning to all punters as quite often friendlies can turn out to be meaningless training ground matches with a myriad of substitutions which can lead to unpredictable results.

How seriously Northern Ireland will want to take this is questionable. My guess is that it will be considered, in racing parlance, a final gallop before the big race. For the big race read the big match and Northern Ireland’s Euro 2016 qualifier clash with Finland at Windsor Park on Sunday.

Scotland also play on Sunday but surely can be a little more relaxed about the prospects of them beating Gibraltar at Hampden.

Both sides have made bright starts to Euro 2016 qualifiers under the respective new management of Stachan and O’Neil.

Scotland v Northern Ireland
International Friendly
7.45pm LIVE ON SKY

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
Feb 2011 International Scotland 3-0 N Ireland
Aug 2008 International Scotland 0-0 N Ireland
Feb 1992 International Scotland 1-0 N Ireland
Dec 1983 International N Ireland 2-0 Scotland
May 1983 International Scotland 0-0 N Ireland
Apr 1982 International N Ireland 1-1 Scotland
Oct 1981 World Cup We N Ireland 0-0 Scotland
May 1981 International Scotland 2-0 N Ireland
Oct 1953 World Cup N Ireland 1-3 Scotland

The early money has been for Scotland this morning and I think that is probably well placed. I am buying their superiority with Star Spreads at 0.85 goals.

CLICK FOR SCOTLAND v NORTHERN IRELAND MARKETS ON STAR SPREADS

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale 1-100 points)

BUY SCOTLAND / NORTHERN IRELAND FOR 30 points at around 0.85 goals with Star Spreads

(MARCH RETURN: +1238.75 points)

• Any spread prices quoted are indicative and as always prices are subject to fluctuation.
• Please note the opinion, views and forecasts above are of the author and not of Star Spreads.