Dundalk have European qualification in their sights while Drogheda United are striving to avoid relegation, which means there is plenty riding on Friday night's Louth Derby.
Promoted Dundalk need to snap a two-game losing streak as they seek to keep pace with Bohemians and St Patrick’s Athletic for a place in the 2027/28 UEFA Conference League.
The Drogs, meanwhile, are on a terrible away run and that will surely have to end if they are to successfully fend off the two sides below them in the standings, Waterford and Sligo Rovers.
Dundalk v Drogheda United Tips Summary
Best Bet - Draw or Drogheda United Double Chance @ 13/10
Alternative Bet - Under 9.5 Corners @ 11/10
Bet Builder - Over 2 Goals, Under 7 Dundalk Corners & 1st Half Draw @ 17/2
Dundalk v Drogheda United Prediction
Best Bet: Draw or Drogheda United Double Chance @ 13/10
A quick glance at Drogheda's form figures - especially on their travels - would suggest they are a hopeless case, yet the truth is there is definitely an argument to be made against Dundalk, especially at 3/5.
First, these two have met twice this term already and both games ended in draws, the passion of the local rivalry clearly getting a tune out of Kevin Doherty's Drogs.
Second, Dundalk have lost two in a row, the second a 2-1 defeat at Shelbourne where they clearly missed young forward Eoin Kenny, who has just signed for Portsmouth.
Dundalk have kept only two clean sheets in 13 and while Drogheda are without a win in eight, it may be worth backing them to be up for this contest and avoid defeat.
Alternative Bet: Under 9.5 Corners @ 11/10
There were just six match corners when the sides last met at Drogheda at the end of May and the value corners bet may well be under 9.5 this time.
Certainly the Drogs don't win too many corners - just 3.9 corners per away game - the lowest in the league.
But Dundalk only average 5.2 corners at home so there seems no obvious grounds to expect a glut of corners.
Dundalk v Drogheda United Bet Builder Tip
Over 2 Goals
Under 7 Dundalk Corners
1st Half Draw
Pays 17/2
Dundalk's home games in the league this season average exactly three a match, while Drogheda's away trips average 3.4.
It'll be tense, it'll be passionate but the likelihood is that there will also be goals so go over two as leg one of this Louth Derby Bet Builder.
Dundalk only average 5.2 corners per home game so make leg two that they stay around that mark, or certainly chalk up less than seven.
Neither of these sides is in sparkling form at the moment and it will be tense so back the first half to end in a draw.
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Key Match Stats
The sides have met twice this season, both games ending 1-1 with Drogheda coming from behind each time
Drogheda have lost each of their last five away games and have conceded at least two goals in each of their last nine road trips
Dundalk have lost their last two games, 3-2 at home to Waterford and 2-1 at Shelbourne
Drogheda are without a win in eight since beating Derry City 1-0 on 8th May; they have lost three of their last four, all by 2-0 scorelines
In their last nine matches, Dundalk have thrown away 13 points from winning positions, more than any other side over that timescale
Drogheda win a league-low 3.9 corners per away game and concede an average of 6.8 corners per away fixture; only Sligo give up more corners on the road
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
