Azerbaijan vs Republic of Ireland Predictions

• Azerbaijan have collected only one point from their five World Cup qualifying fixtures
• Three of Ireland’s last four matches have featured under 2.5 goals
• Ireland have lost only one of their last four games

Ireland set for boost against strugglers Azerbaijan

Ireland have endured a bitterly disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign so far, failing to win any of their first five matches, but manager Stephen Kenny could buy himself some more time in the dugout with victory away to fellow strugglers Azerbaijan.

Kenny is yet to win a competitive game as Ireland boss since replacing Mick McCarthy in September last year and pressure is mounting on the former Dundalk boss.

Among Ireland’s recent low points – and there have been a number of them – was a 1-1 draw with Azerbaijan with Dublin only last month.

And on that occasion defender Shane Duffy had to score in the 87th minute to rescue a point for his country.

But although they were trailing, Ireland dominated that affair, winning the shot count 21-10 and followed it with a respectable draw at home to Serbia.

A performance like that should surely cause problems for Azerbaijan, who themselves have lost four of their five World Cup 2022 qualifier matches, and Kenny could finally get the win Ireland desperately need for morale.

In terms of a correct score, punters should not expect the Irish to blow their opponents away and our prediction is a 1-0 success for the visitors.