Gibraltar vs Montenegro Prediction: Goals the way to go in bottom-of-the-table tussle

Neither Gibraltar nor Montenegro, sat fourth and fifth, respectively, in Group L of the Uefa World Cup qualifiers, look likely to improve their standing before the campaign's end, but pride is certainly on the line for both when they meet on Friday (19:45 GMT) at Europa Point Stadium.

Below are my Gibraltar vs Montenegro predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds..

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Team News

Manchester United youngster James Scanlon and Dorking Wanderers' Carlos Richards, both of whom started Gibraltar's last game, a 3-0 defeat in Croatia on October 12, have been called up to the latest squad by head coach Scott Wiseman.

Football Odds

Montenegro's squad includes Preston North End striker Milutin Osmajic, who was recently handed a nine-match ban for alleged racial abuse of Burnley's Hannibal Mejbri in February. The 26-year-old, who scored in last month's 2-1 friendly victory over Liechtenstein, is free to feature for his nation on Friday, though.

Gibraltar vs Montenegro Odds

Gibraltar, who have lost all six qualifiers so far, are 14/1, or a 6.7% chance, to get off the mark with a win on Friday, while Montenegro, who began their campaign with two wins before losing the next four, are 1/5 to do the double over their opponents, implying an 83.3% probability of success.

The draw is priced at 11/2, both teams to score at 11/8, and over 2.5 total goals at 8/13.

Both Teams To Score - Yes @ 11/8

These are two sides with very little to play for on Friday, so I'm hopeful some entertainment will be served up at Europa Point Stadium.

Gibraltar have failed to score in any of their last four games, but one of their two goals in this group came away to Montenegro on MD1, with Dan Bent opening the scoring in the 13th minute at Stadion Gradski.

Both of Gibraltar's goals in this qualification campaign have come on their travels, the other in a 2-1 defeat to the Faroe Islands on June 9. With Montenegro failing to keep a clean sheet in their last six matches, shipping eight goals across their last two qualifiers, including four in a shocking 4-0 loss to the Faroes last month, Gibraltar's hopes of a goal will be higher than usual on Friday.

Today's Football Fixtures

Montenegro, meanwhile, will fully expect to score at least once, with their hosts losing their last eight games and failing to record a shutout in their last 10.

Total Goals - Over 3.5 @ 13/8

Like with the first selection, this is based on Friday's fixture being worth little to either side, who can both afford to throw caution to the wind.

March's reverse fixture saw four goals scored as Montenegro won 3-1 in Niksic, and that was the first of their three qualifiers that have gone over 3.5 goals, the last two being back-to-back 4-0 defeats to Croatia and the Faroe Islands in October.

Gibraltar have also seen half (three) of their six Group L games finish with at least four goals, including their first two at home against the Czech Republic (0-4) and Croatia (0-7).