Lithuania v Northern Ireland predictions: Visitors should have the edge

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for the World Cup Group C qualifier between Lithuania and Northern Ireland on Thursday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Football, 7.45pm Thursday

Best bet

Northern Ireland & under 3.5 goals
1pt 6-5 general

Team news

Lithuania
Goalkeeper Ernestas Setkus has returned after a two-year absence but skipper Saulius Mikoliunas has been ruled out.

Northern Ireland
Defender Jonny Evans and striker Josh Magennis are both injured.

Match preview

Neither Northern Ireland nor Lithuania have found the net in their opening two World Cup qualifiers, so it is hardly surprising that bookmakers anticipate a drab affair when the teams clash in Group C on Thursday.

Both sides have suffered a defeat to newly crowned European champions Italy, but Ian Baraclough's side will have the highest hopes of making next winter's jamboree in Qatar.

A victory in this one is essential if they are to have any realistic chance, particularly as they have already played out a home goalless draw with Bulgaria.

There is little reason to be enthusiastic about the home team's chances.

Lithuania's only two victories in their last 18 home matches came in friendlies against New Zealand and the Faroe Islands and they have scored more than once in only two of those outings.

The prices available on not a lot happening are short and that means punters will have to stick their neck out a bit if they are looking for an odds-against return, and that could point to a low-scoring away victory.

While Baraclough's boys have been shot-shy in this campaign, the onus is on them to get something and a recent 3-0 victory in Malta is a positive for supporting them.

They also posted victories in Estonia and Belarus during their unsuccessful campaign to reach the Euro 2020 finals, so it is worth taking a chance on them to win a game featuring fewer than four goals.

Key stat

Lithuania have scored just one goal in their last six internationals

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