TNS vs Linfield Predictions

• Linfield have won four and drawn one of their last five competitive away matches.
• TNS have failed to win four of their last five home games in Champions League qualifying, losing three.
• Northern Ireland’s Premiership is ranked higher than the Welsh Premier in Uefa’s coefficient table.

Bolstered Blues are backable to cause an upset

Linfield have strengthened this summer and look good value to cause a first-leg surprise against TNS in Champions League qualifying this week.

The Northern Irish champions brought in ex-Leeds United youth player Robbie McDaid from Glentoran to play up front  while winger Joel Cooper has joined Oxford United. The Blues added Chris McKee and Danny Finlayson on a free transfer and a loan from St Mirren respectively and both played against the Buddies in a 2-1 friendly defeat last weekend.

Manager David Healy has declared everyone fit to face TNS and there was enough evidence in the first half of their warm-up game to suggest they can be very competitive against the Welsh Premier League champions.

TNS were fortunate to overcome Irish opponents recently

TNS lost their most recent warm-up to Larne, although they did beat Cliftonville 2-1 a few days earlier.  The comparison with the latter is interesting as they were only narrowly pipped to the title by Linfield last term.

Cliftonville were unlucky to lose at Park Hall Stadium and could easily have come away with a draw, which should give Linfield some encouragement for the two-legged Home Nations tussle. Uefa’s coefficient rankings have the Northern Ireland Premiership above the Welsh Premier at the moment while Linfield have pulled in more points than TNS over the last three seasons too.

Hence, the short odds on the hosts are best left alone here with a double chance play on Healy’s men looking a better option. A 1-1 draw takes our fancy in correct score betting as TNS didn’t keep a clean sheet in four of their last six domestic games last term or in any of their three warm-up matches for this fixture.