Northern Ireland are mounting an unlikely promotion charge in League B of the UEFA Nations League (UNL) and could put themselves in with a very good chance of achieving that if they can overcome basement boys Georgia at Windsor Park.
Match News and Current Form
Hitting the road to face Ukraine was, on paper at least, the toughest task Group B2 had to offer them, but Northern Ireland passed it with flying colours by picking up a 3-0 victory. The Green and White Army now top the group with an unbeaten record after three rounds (W2, D1) and know that a win here will more than likely be enough to secure at least a promotion play-off berth given their nearest contenders face each other on matchday four. Their form in Belfast will certainly heighten belief that a maiden League A campaign beckons as Northern Ireland have lost just one of their last ten home games (W7, D2) and play two of their final three games at Windsor Park.
The mood in the Georgian camp will be polar opposite to that in their hosts’, as a winless start (D1, L2) leaves them staring down the barrel of demotion to League C. A 1-0 defeat away to Hungary was the latest blow in what has been a turbulent campaign for Georgia, who have seen Willy Sagnol sacked and replaced with Ramaz Svanadze, whose arrival has so far failed to have the desired effect. Georgia’s demise spans back much longer than Svanadze’s reign though, as they’re now winless in seven competitive games (D1, L6), a sequence which contains four successive away reversals.
Head-to-Head History
Northern Ireland have won both prior H2Hs after a 99th-minute goal decided the reverse fixture.
Hot Stats and Streaks
None of Northern Ireland’s last eight competitive games saw both teams score.
Northern Ireland kept a clean sheet in seven of their last nine UNL games.
Georgia’s last six games produced under 2.5 goals.
Six of Georgia’s last eight competitive goals arrived after the hour mark.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Isaac Price may have grabbed Northern Ireland’s second of the game against Ukraine, but his four career scoring appearances at Windsor Park all saw him net the opener. Georges Mikautadze (G23) is eyeing up the all-time scoring record for Georgia of 26 goals by Shota Arveladze, but he may need to be patient here given his last two international strikes, and his last three in the group stage of the UNL, arrived on or beyond the hour mark.
Northern Ireland have no fresh concerns, but Georgia’s Otar Kiteishvili picked up a knock against Hungary.
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Betting Analysis
A meeting between two sides in polar opposite form only looks likely to end one way, and that’s in a Northern Ireland win.
Author: Chris Wilson
