Motherwell vs Sligo Rovers Predictions

• Motherwell have seen under 2.5 goals scored in three of their last five competitive matches.
• Sligo Rovers have seen under 2.5 goals netted in four of their last six contests.
• The visitors have won just five of their last 13 games, and one of their last six on the road.

‘Well target Europa Conference League spot

Having failed to even reach the play-off stage of a European qualification campaign since 2012, Motherwell are bidding to advance past a second-round clash with Irish outfit Sligo Rovers, and come into Thursday’s first leg as strong favourites despite falling to fifth in the Scottish Premiership after an underwhelming end to last season.

Graham Alexander’s men made a positive start to the 2021-22 season, before posting their second highest league finish since 2014 despite only winning three of their final 18 league games. However, Motherwell remain a solid enough side, with only four of their last 26 games featuring a total of four goals, and just three of their most recent five containing over 2.5 goals.

Sligo, meanwhile, needed a penalty shoot-out to get past Bala Town in the last round, having fallen at the first hurdle in this competition against Icelandic minnows FH last year. Having finished third in 2021, John Russell’s team have won just eight of their 23 Irish Premier fixtures in 2022 to sit fifth, picking up just four victories in their last 13 games, and only one in their last six road trips.

Hosts should claim advantage, but goalfest not anticipated

Motherwell’s superior quality makes them strong favourites to claim a first-leg advantage over their Irish opponents, but Alexander’s men have scored more than one goal in just four of their last 18 outings, and they shouldn’t be expected to rack up the goals.

Backing Motherwell to win a match featuring under 2.5 goals looks a strong play, with a solid if unspectacular 2-0 home win appearing a decent correct score prediction.