MY ACCOUNT
The Republic of Ireland and Scotland failed to qualify for the Qatar World Cup but one side look in better shape heading into their Nations League meeting in Dublin.
Stephen Kenny has had a tough time of it since being appointed Ireland manager in April 2020, taking 12 matches to record his first win in charge.
The Irish won just two of their eight World Cup qualifying matches and those successes only came against Azerbaijan and Luxembourg — teams they would have been expected to beat comfortably.
They have never won a match in the Nations League and have started the latest edition with consecutive 1-0 defeats to Armenia and Ukraine, putting them at early risk of relegation to League C.
As for Scotland, they are still picking themselves up after losing their World Cup play-off clash to the Ukrainians at Hampden Park but made a winning start to their campaign by beating Armenia 2-0 on Wednesday.
Team news
For the hosts, John Egan is a doubt and Seamus Coleman will be pushing to make a return but it remains to be seen whether or not he will earn a starting berth.
In a bid to liven up the attack, Kenny is expected to start with Michael Obafemi in place of Chiedozie Ogbene.
Scotland, meanwhile, do not have any fresh injury concerns to report but Scott McTominay is likely to be deployed in midfield and Anthony Ralston, who scored against Armenia, will be hoping to keep his place on the right side of a five-man defence.
The stats
Ireland have failed to win any of their 12 matches in the Nations League and they go into this clash having triumphed in just two of their last six fixtures.
Goals in particular have been a problem for Kenny’s men, who have lost on their last two outings, drawing a blank in both defeats.
They took until the 97th minute to find a winner in a friendly with minnows Lithuania in March and they have failed to find the net in six of their last 11 home fixtures.
Scotland, meanwhile, have won seven of their previous 10 matches and look in good nick.
Predictions
Due to the contrasting form of these two nations over the last year or so, a Scotland win could well be on the cards in Dublin.
Kenny insists his team are on the right track but the results simply do not support that statement. Given they could not find a way past Ukraine or Armenia, they are unlikely to breach the Tartan Army, who continue to develop under the astute Steve Clarke.
Five of Scotland’s last seven fixtures have featured fewer than three goals though, and with the Irish’s lack of potency up top, a victory for the visitors could come in a low-scoring fixture.
