St. Patrick’s Athletic come into Friday evening’s Premier Division game on a strong six-match unbeaten run, with five wins and one draw in that spell. Their last two league home outings have also been controlled rather than chaotic, with a 0-0 draw against Derry City and a 4-1 win over Drogheda United, which fits a side that is not giving much away at the moment.
At home, Stephen Kenny’s team have been especially hard to crack, sitting top of the home table with three wins and a draw from four and only one goal conceded. They have already beaten Galway United 1-0 and Dundalk 4-0 in that run, so clean sheets have been a regular part of their profile at this ground.
Sligo Rovers arrive in the opposite sort of shape, with three losses in their last four league matches and no goals scored in three of their last six. Away from home, they have taken just one point from four league trips, scoring once in total, so their ability to contribute to both teams finding the net looks limited.
The recent head-to-head record also points in the same direction, with St. Patrick’s Athletic keeping Sligo out in four of the last eight meetings and winning three of the last four home games in the fixture without conceding. That does not guarantee a shutout, and the 2-1 correct score call leaves a small opening for Sligo, but the balance of evidence still leans toward one side doing the scoring.
My prediction is BTTS - No at 67/100. St. Patrick’s Athletic have conceded only one home league goal all season, while Sligo Rovers have scored just once in four away league matches. Sligo have also failed to score in three of their last six overall and have gone three games without a win, which reinforces the case for at least one blank.
