Wales vs Northern Ireland Prediction and Preview – 24/03/16
International Friendly preview – Wales vs Northern Ireland prediction.
Wales are without their star duo of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey for the friendly match at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday. Manager Chris Coleman will look as some of his backup players for Euro 2016 with Bournemouth midfielder Shaun MacDonald set to feature while up front, Burnley’s Sam Vokes could team up Reading’s Hal Robson-Kanu who has been recalled.
Chris Brunt has been a mainstay for Northern Ireland but injury has ruled the West Brom player out of this week’s friendlies and the upcoming tournament in France. Norwich City striker Kyle Lafferty remains Michael O’Neill’s first choice front man despite not starting in the Premier League this season. The 28-year-old from Enniskillen has scored 16 goals in 45 appearances for his country but may give up some game time to Queens Park Rangers’ striker Conor Washington who receives his first call up to the national squad.
Possible Line-ups
Wales 3-5-2 formation: Hennessey; Gunter, Williams, Davies; Richards, MacDonald, Allen, Ledley, Taylor; Vokes, Robson-Kanu
Northern Ireland 3-5-2 formation: McGovern; McNair, McAuley, Evans; McLaughlan, Davis, Baird, Norwood, Dallas; Ward, Lafferty
Statistics
- Wales have won 5 drawn 3 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches
- Northern Ireland have won 4 drawn 4 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Wales have scored an average of 1.1 goals and conceded an average of 0.7 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Northern Ireland have scored an average of 1.2 goals and conceded an average of 0.8 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 3 of Wales’ previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 3 of Northern Ireland’s previous 10 matches
Prediction
Wales have only lost three of 14 games since failing to qualify for the 2014 World Cup but will be tested without the services of their two key players. Bale and Ramsey were missing when Wales lost 2-3 against Netherlands at Cardiff in November but otherwise Coleman has the defense set up well and they had kept clean sheets in six of seven previous games. Wales went unbeaten at Cardiff in qualifying for the European Championships, defeating group winners Belgium along the way.
Northern Ireland were surprise winners of qualifying Group F, finishing above Romania, Hungary and the disappointing Greece. The Irish only lost one group game, 2-0 in Romania, and have played one friendly since qualifying – a 1-0 victory over Latvia at Windsor Park, Belfast in November. They lost 1-0 in a friendly against Scotland last March and are unbeaten in seven subsequent games.
In a match between two well organised and hard-working defences, Northern Ireland are the most likely to give up a goal which may be all that separates the sides.
Tips
Wales to win at 11/8 with Ladbrokes
Under 2.5 goals at 3/5 with 888sport
Wales to win 1-0 at 6/1 with 888sport
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