Home advantage should tell for Shamrock Rovers

From 7.45pm Friday

Shamrock Rovers should prove too strong for Bohemians in Tallaght on Friday.

Rovers' issues in goal were again highlighted in Dundalk last weekend, yet there were many positives for them to take from the game, while Bohs achieved much less in failing to beat Limerick at home.

League of Ireland Premier standings

What was notable at Dalymount was that Bohs manager Keith Long dropped striker Dinny Corcoran even though his side are struggling for goals. They do not look convincing defensively either, and Rovers have turned Tallaght into a major advantage.

Despite their issues in goal, the only time they have conceded at home this term was in a 6-1 win over Derry.

Plenty of punters will be tempted by the prices about Cork beating St Patrick's at home and they seem a shade big, despite Cork not playing with much fluency in recent weeks.

It remains to be seen if Patrick's can start turning possession into goals, although they will be encouraged by Christy Fagan's cracker in the League Cup against Dundalk on Monday.

Cork's loss to Waterford ended in a brawl that saw Blues' key pair Bastien Hery and Stanley Aborah receive lengthy suspensions.

That is probably why there has been so much money for Derry to beat Waterford and maintain their excellent home returns since Brandywell reopened.

Waterford could well win but that duo represent a major loss. Goals look likely in this clash and both teams to net is a perfectly good wager. Derry leaked plenty of chances in their last home game against Pat's, which they won 2-1.

Bray have been atrocious and are unlikely to trouble Dundalk, although the Seagulls having a managerial shake-up makes it slightly less of a formality.

The bet of the weekend, however, comes on Saturday, when Limerick, who signed former Chelsea youngster Conor Clifford this week, host Sligo.

Limerick need goals, but the pitch at Markets Field has been poor and they have become hard to beat at home. Sligo, meanwhile have had some poor results and barely created a chance last weekend against Derry.

In Division One, Longford look too big against a Drogheda side who are probably no better than them.

Recommendations
Shamrock Rovers
2pts 4-7 BoyleSports
Both teams to score in Derry v Waterford
3pts 9-10 bet365, Hills
Limerick draw no bet
3pts 21-20 Hills
Longford draw no bet
2pts 6-4 Hills

Bet on these matches at soccerbase.com

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