Scotland Host Northern Ireland In International Friendly

Scotland will host Northern Ireland tomorrow as the teams take part in something of a local friendly before continuing with their Euro 2016 qualifiers. The former currently sit in 39th place in the FIFA World Rankings, having moved down one place following the last reconfiguration. In Euro 2016 qualification group C, they lie in third position, three points off league leaders Poland but level on points with second placed Germany and the Republic of Ireland who occupy the fourth position.

Northern Ireland are just four places worse off than Scotland in the FIFA World Rankings having been shifted up eight places following the last reorganisation of the table. This will, in no small part, be down to the flying start that they have made to their Euro 2016 qualification campaign. Michael O`Neill`s men sit in second position after the first four games. On nine points, they are just one behind table toppers Romania and two better off than third placed Hungary.

The hosts` home advantage and their superior standing in world football terms means that it is they who are the favourites to take a confidence boosting victory from the match-up. Gordon Strachan`s Scotland can be backed at the best price of 4/5 (betfred, ladbrokes) to see off their Great British rivals. Contrarily, the visitors are 19/4 shots with Betvictor to come away from Hampden Park with the win. A draw can be picked up at the best price of 13/5. That is available from betfair.

Scotland have played five games since September 2014. Their record currently reads won two, drawn one, lost two. Despite this mixed record, the home side have scored in all of these previous five matches and have kept two clean sheets - in both their wins. Betvictor`s 31/20 says that Scotland will be able to win to nil tomorrow for the third time in four home games. The Tartan Army lost their only other game at home, this against England, that match ending 3-1.

Having scored two goals in these five games, Shaun Maloney is his side`s top scorer for this period. The Chicago Fire midfielder scored his country`s first goal in their 2-2 draw away at Poland before grabbing the only goal in their home win over the Republic of Ireland. Whilst the 32-year-old is a 4/1 (Bwin) shot to score at any time, the player can be backed at 10/1 at ladbrokes to provide the opener for the second time in six games. Northern Ireland have played four games in this same period (from November 2014), picking up three victories and losing once. The side have scored six goals and have kept two clean sheets. Both Coral and Betvictor have 15/2 on O`Neill`s men managing to record a third win to nil of this period tomorrow night.

Before Northern Ireland`s clash with Romania, which they lost by two goals to nil, they had scored two goals in each of their last three games. Despite this they are a massive 12/1 with betfred to score over 1.5 goals tomorrow whilst they are also available at 13/2 with Betvictor to score exactly two goals at Hampden Park.

Their top scorer for this period is Kyle Lafferty who has scored three goals in their last four games. The 27-year-old, who plays in the Turkish Super Lig on loan from Championship side Norwich, can be backed at the best price of 9/1 (bet365, boylesports) to be the last goalscorer of the match after hitting the final goal against Hungary (2-1), the Faroe Islands (2-0) and Greece (2-0).

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24/03/2015     © Frixo 2024