Tips — Thursday, 8 October 2026

💬 Johor's huge scoring average comes from games that looked nothing like this one. They have put 10 past Damansara, 9 past Kelantan Red Warrior and 7 past Imigresen. Those were mismatches against the weakest opposition Johor have faced, one of them a cup tie. Against the one strong side they have met in this run, Buriram United, they tied 1-1 at home. That is the version to expect when the opponent actually defends. Only 8 of Johor's last 16 games have had 4 or more goals, so the big totals are not the norm. Johor have won 13 of their last 16 and have let in just four goals in ten home games. That last number matters most here. Almost all the goals in this game have to come from one team. Svay Rieng will drop deep and try to keep the score down. They are Cambodia's champions, but their level falls away against continental teams. They lost 0-2 at Machida Zelvia, and they let in more than a goal a game on the road. A 3-0 Johor win is the most likely result, and that keeps the goals low enough for this to land. Johor control it, score when they want, and ease off once the game is safe. The risk is an open start. These clubs met once before and it ended 2-2, so Svay Rieng can score. If Johor are two up early, they may keep going. We still expect the goals to stay down.

💬 Persib turn almost every game into a tight one, and that is the heart of this pick. They have won by exactly one goal in 11 of their 18 games. Their games have averaged just over 2 goals in total. They score more than a goal a game and let in less than one. They have lost only one of their last 18, and they won 1-0 away at FC Seoul last month. That is a team that is happy to win small. Port are hard to score against at home too. They have let in less than a goal a game across nine home games, winning six, tying two and losing one. The two clubs have met three times and Port have never lost, winning 2-0 and 1-0. Those three meetings have averaged just over 2 goals. Add 18 days off for both teams and a group opener neither side wants to lose. A cagey, tactical night is the obvious read. A 1-0 Port win is the most likely result, and that lands this comfortably. The honest worry is Port's attack. They score just over 2 goals a game, and their games have averaged 3 goals in total. An early Port goal would force Persib out, and that is how a third goal arrives. We still want the quiet game.

💬 Rovers need to win this one, and that is the best reason to expect goals. They sit third on 59 points from 31 games, level on points with St Patrick's and Bohemians and only behind on goal difference. They have a game in hand on both, so a quiet night does nothing for them. Tallaght has been a tough place to visit all year. Rovers are unbeaten in ten home games, with seven wins and three ties. At home they score more than 2 goals a game and let in just over one. Their games have just over 3 goals in them on average, and 11 of their last 19 had 3 or more. Drogheda sit ninth with a goal difference of minus 13. They will sit deep and counter, but their own games are not quiet either. On the road they score and let in just over a goal a game, and 10 of their last 18 games had 3 or more goals. A 2-1 Rovers win is the most likely result, and that is enough for this to land. They break through, then leave gaps at the back as they push for more. The warning is a real one. These two tied 0-0 in both March and July this year, and their last 20 meetings have averaged just over 2 goals. Both sides also come in off 20 days without a game, which can make a night scrappy. We still want the busier game here.