Larne vs St Gallen Prediction: Espen can excel in Belfast

Something has to give at Windsor Park on Thursday (20:00, TNT Sports 4), where winless pair Larne and St Gallen face off in the league phase of the Conference League.

Read on for my Larne vs St Gallen prediction, alongside all the latest team news and match odds.

Larne recorded a decent 2-0 league victory at Glentoran on Saturday and after dropping out of the Champions League following home-and-away defeats to Rigas FC, they overcame Ballkani and Lincoln Red Imps to make the main stage of this competition.

However, a 3-0 defeat at Molde was followed by a 4-1 home loss to Irish outfit Shamrock Rovers and has left Tiernan Lynch's side languishing at the bottom of the table, while they also have the added disadvantage of playing in unfamiliar surroundings at Windsor Park.

St Gallen opened with a 6-2 loss to Cercle Brugge before going down 4-2 against Fiorentina and have failed to win any of their last eight in all competitions and are only ahead of their opponents on goals scored, with this pair two of seven sides still to pick up a point.

A playoff victory over Trabzonspor suggests they belong at this level and they have drawn three in a row in the league since their defeat to the Viola.

This is a good chance for Enrico Maassen's side to end their winless run in what could be an entertaining game in Belfast.

Team News

Larne look to have a full squad to choose from and Lynch could retain the side that won at Glentoran.

Football Odds

It could be similar for St Gallen after their 1-1 draw with FC Sion, although Felix Mambimbi may not be risked despite the positive news following his early withdrawal with a head injury.

Larne vs St Gallen Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Larne vs St Gallen page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

Larne are 11/2 to win, while St Gallen are 4/9, or a 69.2% chance, as they also search for their first league phase victory, with the draw at Windsor Park available at 18/5.

Both of Larne's games have seen over 2.5 goals, but that is only priced at 1/2, but Espen's matches have seen eight and six goals, and over 3.5 goals is 5/4 and another case of over 5.5 is 6/1.

Match Result & Both Teams to Score - St Gallen & Yes @ 13/8

Both sides need to start motoring if they are to mount an unlikely qualifying push.

Larne looked to be losing momentum but bounced back with that 2-0 win at Glentoran. However, they could come unstuck against St Gallen, who themselves have struggled for wins but will have been encouraged by a recent trio of draws.

All three of those saw both teams score, an outcome that has landed in 13 of their last 14 games.

The Antrim outfit may grab a goal but with Inver Park falling short of the Uefa standards, having to play at Windsor Park adds to their difficulties - as shown in the defeat to Shamrock - and another defeat beckons.

Anytime Goalscorer - Chadrac Akolo (STG) @ 5/4

St Gallen's cause could be helped by Mambimbi, who has netted in both of his team's Conference League games so far, grabbing the final strike against Cercle Brugge and the opener when Fiorentina came to town.

However, while there is a good chance he will feature, strike partner Chadrac Akolo is a more certain starter. The 29-year-old is yet to convert in the Conference League but grabbed his team's goal against Sion.

Larne kept a clean sheet at Glentoran but conceded in their three before that, and Akolo could break his duck at Windsor Park.

Offers

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