St Patricks vs Shamrock Rovers Predictions

• Shamrock Rovers are the early leaders in the League of Ireland Premier Division, winning two of their first three.
• The visitors are looking to seal a third successive league title this season, having won the league by 18 points in 2021.
• Shamrock Rovers earned three wins and a draw in four clashes with St Patrick’s last term, and are unbeaten in the last 13 head-to-head clashes.

Early test for Shamrock Rovers’ credentials

Shamrock Rovers won the League of Ireland Premier Division in both 2020 and 2021, and face a test of their credentials early on in the 2022 campaign, when they travel to last year’s runners-up St Patricks Athletic.

The visitors have won two of their first three games to sit top of the tree at this early stage, although a 2-1 loss at Derry City did show their fallibility. Shamrock Rovers’ seven goals in the opening three games is the joint-best in the division, and they won the league by a massive 18 points last year, earning 10 points from their four games against Friday’s opponents, against whom they have not lost since 2018.

The home side, meanwhile, have suffered early defeats to Bohemians and Sligo Rovers, putting them on the back foot in the title race. St Patrick’s were unable to prevent Rovers from running away with the title last year after leading early on, and their head-to-head record against Ireland’s perennial champions suggests they may struggle again at the start of a new campaign.

Visitors should continue dominant record against St Patrick’s Athletic

Incredibly, Shamrock Rovers are unbeaten in the last 13 head-to-head meetings between the sides, a record which stretches back to May 2018. The Irish champions beat Friday’s hosts in the President’s Cup final on penalties after a 1-1 draw last month, and have won their last three league games against last season’s runners-up.

With that in mind, Shamrock Rovers look to be worth backing for a crucial win. With both teams netting in four of the last five head-to-head meetings, meanwhile, a 2-1 away triumph could be a decent correct score bet.

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