Football Tips: UK and Irish clubs in Europe 10/1 acca for Thursday night

No rest for the wicked…or in this case, Manchester United fans as they host PAOK in Europa League and Ruud van Nistelrooy continues as Ruben Amorim’s place holder at Old Trafford.

Amorim has already been declared a ledge by the Red Devils fans, after masterminding a European farewell at Sporting Lisbon, as they cruised to a 4-1 win over Manchester City on Tuesday night

Ahead of a busy Thursday evening, our tipster Andrew Cunneen has whipped up an acca involving UK and Irish teams – including United – with Chelsea, Shamrock Rovers, TNS and Larne all on duty in the Europa Conference League.

Let’s go…!

Thursday Football Betting Tips

5:45pm – Shamrock Rovers v TNS
Shamrock Rovers to win

8:00pm – Man United v PAOK
Man United to win to nil

8:00pm – Chelsea v Noah
Chelsea to win to nil

8:00pm – Larne v St Gallen
St Gallen (-1)

Shamrock Rovers v TNS – Shamrock Rovers to win

For those unfamiliar with the League of Ireland, TNS often acted as a reflection of where Ireland was as a footballing nation.

So when they hammered Bohs many moons ago, the TNS benchmark grew – and our superiority complex when it comes to Welsh football – has only grown since, given the way the two countries have gone.

So this acts as a fun exercise. Will TNS put up much of a fight against a Rovers team with no domestic distractions? I would say yes, if it wasn’t a live possibility of Rovers qualifying for the next round, but with players coming back to full fitness, it feels like Stephen Bradley’s boys would be better suited to the Europa League.

Man United v PAOK – Man United to win to nil

Although the new man in town won’t take over for another week, he’ll be watching United tackle fodder they’d typically embarrass themselves against otherwise.

That’s the thing about this United squad, and by proxy, their entire structure as a club: the talent is there, it’s just the reliance on their reputation getting them over the line that always seems to bite them.

However, with new horizons incoming, the petulant children are on their best behaviour, for fear they get left out in the cold.

PAOK’s clash at home to Steaua Bucharest presented you with important context – they do not have a clinical striker. Not that anyone really believed in Fyodor Chalov from early on anyway, but the point remains.

They created numerous big opportunities but couldn’t finish. This is a different proposition, and despite the banter accounts anticipating a pitiful showing, it’s likely to be straightforward.

Chelsea v Noah – Chelsea to win to nil

This selection might sound like a cop-out, but it’s what you get when you have clubs spending billions, up against the fringes of Europe.

I won’t go into any tactical reasons why this is a good bet because that would be insulting your intelligence.

Instead, I’ll opt to paint a picture of FC Noah – who I’m sure you’re unfamiliar with.

They’re in the Armenian Premier League, play in a stadium with a capacity of 3,300, and not only are they not top of that incredible competition – they’re not currently in the top three.

This is a mad price.

Larne v St Gallen – St Gallen (-1)

I don’t like doubling down on the weakness of sides from my neck of the European woods, but Larne should have shipped seven or eight goals to Shamrock Rovers in Windsor Park a few weeks back.

And it’s not all their fault. They’re clearly at a disadvantage by having to play outside of their normal home, but they might be the weakest side in the competition – and being beaten comprehensively by a team south of the border means there’s no way of hiding that in coefficient formulas.

The likelihood of them being more invested in Sunday’s game against Coleraine is high and that context is very important.

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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