Shamrock Rovers vs Waterford — Tips & Analysis

Waterford +1.25: This game does not produce big margins. The last five meetings finished 2-0, 1-0, 1-1, 2-1 and 1-0, every one of them inside two goals. Rovers are also in a rut in front of goal. They have gone five games without a win and scored four goals in that whole run. Those results were 0-2 at St Patrick's, 0-0 against Shelbourne, 3-3 at Derry, 0-1 and 1-1 against KuPS. They have won by 2 or more in only 5 of their last 19 games. Waterford are the opposite kind of team right now. They are unbeaten in five, including a 2-0 win away at league leaders St Patrick's. They score almost 2 goals a game and have lost by 2 or more in only 2 of their last 20. A side this hard to beat by a wide margin suits a head start. The rest gap runs the other way. Rovers have had 7 days off, and Waterford played Derry City on 14 September, so they come in on 4. A 1-0 Rovers win is the likely finish. Waterford need to stay within a goal, and that is what these games keep delivering. The warning is a big one. Rovers have won 17 of the last 20 meetings, and at Tallaght they score more than 2 goals a game and have not lost in their last nine. We still want Waterford with the start.