Home and Away: Sligo look to dislodge Derry from the top of the table

6May 2013

Betfair

Jonno Turner eyes action in Ireland and Spain as he looks to kick start the week with two winning selections...

We're off to Ireland for our first pick of the week - and Sligo Rovers host Derry in a top of the table clash at the Showgrounds, desperate to dislodge the leaders.

Ian Barraclough's side sit second in the Premier Division, on level points with their guests in top spot - and will be keen to make the most of home advantage here in order to lift themselves into pole position.

Sligo are unbeaten in their last seven on their own patch - winning six of those, and keeping five clean sheets - which underlines the dominance they have shown of late.

But a 2-2 draw with Drogheda in their last outing at the Showgrounds will definitely be seen as two points dropped by the hosts, and they'll be looking to make up for that here.

Visitors Derry travel to the north west unbeaten in their last 10 - and without a loss in five on the road.

Declan Devine's side will see this game as a massive opportunity to give themselves some breathing space at the top of the table, but a 1-1 draw at St Patricks in their last clash away from the Brandywell Stadium saw them off the boil somewhat.

And the Candystripes have not kept a clean sheet in their last two, which will ring alarm bells in Northern Ireland following a run which saw them keep out their opponents in three consecutive away games.

Bet 1: Sligo (HOME) @ 2.24

Switching our attentions to Spain now, as in-form Real Sociedad travel to Getafe in La Liga, looking to extend their recent unbeaten run to 16 outings.

Philippe Montanier's side have not tasted defeat in seven away from the Anoeta, and that will give them much confidence ahead of this trip, which could see them further cement their place in the final Champions League qualifying place.

The Erreala will be desperate to maintain that fourth placed position, which shows such massive improvement on their 12th placed finish of last year, and will be eyeing this trip to an out of sorts Getafe side as the perfect opportunity for three points.

The hosts sit in 10th place ahead of this clash, and have not won in five outings, which will have knocked confidence down at the Alfonso Perez.

And six without a win from 10 home performances suggests that the home side may be susceptible to the momentum of their visitors here.

No goals scored in their last two on their own patch will be ringing alarm bells with the Azulones boss Luis Garcia Plaza, and he will be desperate for them to arrest that slump here.

But I think that the vigour shown by the visitors in recent weeks will be enough to send them home with a smile on their faces.

Bet 2: Real Sociedad (AWAY) @ 2.16