Stephen Tips History

Shamrock Rovers have won the last five at home and they are chasing Europa League football next season as they occupy third spot in the league. Sligo won at home when the sides last met and they are in a relegation fight. I can see Sligo digging their heels in and they could get a point in Tallaght. Double Chance with the home win.

The two league meetings in 2017 between Galway United and St.Pats have ended in 1-1 scorelines. Galway sit in the final relegation position on 33pts, Pats are one point clear of the drop zone, huge match, both teams will go for it and I fancy BTTS.

Derry City won 2-0 at Finn Harps in July and the Candystripes are chasing Shamrock Rovers for third spot in the league while Finn Harps have lost three in a row in the league and are now four points from safety. Fancy Derry here, double chance the draw.

Cork have won on their last three trips to Dalymount Park and the away win tonight secures the league title for The Rebels. Bohs were beaten away at Sligo last weekend and with nothing to play for I can only see Cork City turning on the style. Away win covered on the double chance.

A fourth straight win away to Bohemians at Dalymount Park will secure the league title for John Caulfield's men and after securing their spot in the Cup final, I expect Cork to have far too much for a Bohs side who look set to finish where they currently sit in sixth.

Holland beat Belarus 3-1 and Sweden beat them 4-0 in the last two group games. On both occasions Belarus were behind at the break and with a home win securing France's passage to next years World Cup I can see a fast start from Les Blues.

Belarus were beaten Half time full time by both Holland and Sweden in their last two group games and with France needing a win to top the group I expect a fast start from the home side. 4-0 at home to Holland, 4-1 at home to Bulgaria, France scored early away to Bulgaria to win half time full time and I am backing the home side to win this comfortably.

Holland and Sweden have both beaten Belarus recently in this group and with the Stade de France being a tough place to go and play I can see the French getting the home win needed to book their plane tickets to Russia next summer. France home win.

Cyprus seem to have run out of steam losing the last two group games and with Belgium the run away leaders they would love to finish with a home win to make it nine wins from ten in this qualification.

Iceland won half time full time in Turkey last week and they have beaten Ukraine and Croatia at home in their last two. Eight straight qualification defeats for Kosovo, Iceland won half time full time away at tonight's opponents.

A home win secures Iceland as group winners and they will have booked their spot on the plane to next years World Cup. 2-1 in the reverse fixture when Iceland were 2-0 up at the break, I fancy the home side to control this game from the off.

In all five head to head meetings Germany have been ahead at the break and went on to complete the half time full time victory. 3-1 at half time when the sides met in Azerbaijan, Germany were excellent against Northern Ireland and can complete the perfect ten in the group with a commanding home win.

Five straight half time full time wins for Germany, they were 3-1 up at the break in the reverse fixture and went on to win 4-1. Half time full time in all five meetings with Azerbaijan, Germany to cruise to victory here.

Denmark have won four in a row to sit second and a home win will all but secure a play-off spot and if any shocks happen between Poland and Montenegro then the Danes can win the group. Denmark beat Poland 4-0 at home recently and there is serious momentum with the Danish side. Home win to finish the campaign with five victories.

Fourth and third the last two seasons in the First Division, I feel UCD are a much more solid unit than Waterford. The gap at the top is four points as we enter July but with Georgie Kelly up front for UCD they look to just edge the Waterford side who I can see having a bad three or four game run at some stage before the end of the season. The Students can grind out results and I am backing them to win the league title and return to the top flight, its due.

Andorra have lost six of their eight group games including 6-0 in Portugal where Ronaldo scored two inside the opening five minutes. Portugal must win this game to set up a blockbuster showdown with Switzerland in the last match. Half time full time Portugal.

Holland and France beat Luxembourg HT/FT in recent group games and with Sweden just a point behind France who travel to Bulgaria this is a huge home fixture for the Swedes. Sweden beat Belarus and Bulgaria half time full time at home and you have to fancy a repeat against the minnows from Luxembourg.

St.Pats have won two of the last three at home to Limerick and had a massive win against Shamrock Rovers in the last game. That win moved Pats two points clear of the drop and I really fancy them to put in another display against Limerick. It's four home league wins in a row at Richmond Park and the atmosphere should be electric. Pats to get a result.

Four defeats in a row in all competitions for Drogheda who have conceded 13 goals. 4-1 when the sides last met, Shamrock Rovers are looking to hold onto third place in the league and I am backing the away win at Hunky Dorys Park.

4-1 to Shamrock Rovers when the sides last met at the end of June, Drogheda have lost eight of their last ten and the two wins were the first two rounds of the Cup. The Drogs have suffered at the hands of the top teams this season and I can only see Rovers keep a firm grip of third spot ahead of Derry. Away win.