S.P. Read Esq: Northern Ireland v Switzerland
Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq. looks ahead to Thursday’s World Cup Qualifier between NORTHERN IRELAND v SWITZERLAND and finds the best opportunities available on Star Spreads, the home of sports spread betting.
One of my big punting lessons learnt was to steer well clear of friendlies of any description. So I’ll be giving Scotland v Netherlands a wide berth tonight – both sides have failed to qualify for Russia next year and I remain staggered at the seemingly terminal decline of the Dutch National side and would have absolutely zero interest in backing them to win tonight at around evens.
At Windsor Park there’s a game of far greater importance as Northern Ireland play their play-off first leg game against Switzerland. Northern Ireland are attempting to head to Russia the hard way and reach their first World Cup Finals since 1986.
The Northern Ireland side have a great record at home – losing just three of their last 18 games and look generously priced at around 3/1 with Star Sports.
The key for them tonight is avoiding conceding an away goal but I can’t see many goals. The two sides have only met twice previously and there’s been just one goal.
Northern Ireland manager Martin O’Neill is also of the firm belief it will be a close encounter. He said: “This is different from (the final Euro 2016 qualifier against) Greece when a win was going to take us to the finals.
“I don’t envisage that there will be a big margin over the two legs.
“It will be a tight play-off tie and the main thing for us is to ensure that we have something to take to Basel which is going to give us an opportunity in the second leg.
“Ideally that’s a lead but there are little things that you have to be wary of. There is the significance of an away goal which can change the dynamic of the tie.
“But those are all things we have to manage throughout the game so we can’t get too bogged down in that. Our focus has to be on the performance.”
Switzerland are rated 12 places higher in the much-maligned FIFA Rankings and narrowly missed out on automatic qualification because of goal difference.
HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
INTERNATIONAL Switzerland 0-0 N Ireland
INTERNATIONAL N Ireland 1-0 Switzerland
With so much at stake I think a buy of BOOKINGS at 48 looks fair enough with Star Spreads. Tonight’s Romanian ref Ovidiu Alin Hategan is averaging a staggering 68.5 in 10 games this season and has brandished the red card five times.
He might well try and keep a lid on it but it’s just as possible he gets out of control and I think buyers can look forward to this one.
CLICK FOR NORTHERN IRELAND v SWITZERLAND ON STAR SPREADS
RECOMMENDED BETS (scale 1-100 points)
BUY BOOKINGS for 25 points at 48 with Star Spreads
- 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.
