Portadown return to Shamrock Park tomorrow (Sat 7 November) for Danske Bank Premiership action as they take on reigning champions Linfield with a 3pm kick off.
The Blues are coming off the back of a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Larne at Inver Park in the County Antrim Shield on Tuesday and will be without the suspended Stephen Fallon who received his marching orders early in that game, on the league front however Linfield are sitting pretty at the top with maximum points after winning each of their opening three league games including a victory over challengers Crusaders in their last league outing.
The Ports picked up a point at Milltown against 9 man Warrenpoint Town last Saturday to continue their solid start back to life in the top tier of Northern Irish football, a game that saw another goal for the in form Stephen Murray meaning he’s now scored 4 in his last 4 for the men from Shamrock Park.
The last time the two clubs met was back in December 2018 when an injury time Jordan Stewart winner secured a 2-1 win for Linfield in the Quarter Final of the League Cup at Shamrock Park, in league business the last time the two sides faced each other was in February 2017 when another injury time goal, this time from Josh Carson, salvaged a draw at Windsor Park for David Healy’s men after a superb goal from Portadown’s Adam Foley had seen then bottom of the table Ports take the lead in the 81st minute – Portadown had went into the game on the back of six straight league defeats.
Portadown have a good recent league record against Linfield at Shamrock Park, winning three of the last five and only experiencing one defeat – a 5-0 defeat on a foggy Saturday afternoon in November 2016 in our relegation season. Trips to Windsor Park for Portadown however are a different matter with the Ports only coming away with the 3 points once in almost 18 years, a 2-1 victory back in February 2015 thanks to a Sean Mackle winner – prior to that you have to go back to December 2002 and a 1-0 victory courtesy of a Gary Hamilton goal.
In recent cup competitions it’s very much a mixed bag with the Ports knocking Linfield out of the Irish Cup at Shamrock Park in a 3-2 win with goals from Gary Twigg (2) and a Chris Casement penalty on a wet afternoon in February 2015 not to mention the then Championship Ports defeating Linfield over two legs, with two victories for Ronnie McFall’s men, on our way to lifting the league cup in 2009. From the Blue side of Belfast Linfield can boast of two Irish Cup final victories over Portadown in 2002 and 2010 as well as the recent League Cup quarter final win mentioned above.
Portadown manager Matthew Tipton knows tomorrows opposition well after spending 2 years at Windsor Park as a player, from 2012 to 2014, after leaving Shamrock Park. Portadown can also boast several former Blues in their squad with Aaron Burns, Adam McCallum, Chris Crane, Adam Salley and Callum McVeigh all having been on the books of the Blues in the past while Linfield have former Portadown players Ross Larkin and Shayne Lavery in their squad.
Linfield retained their Irish Premiership title after being named champions of the curtailed 2019-20 campaign having held a four-point lead at the top when the season was suspended in March and, like ourselves, were awarded the league title via a mathematical formula – it was Linfield’s third league title in four seasons, having won 22 of their 31 games. Manager David Healy didn’t rest on his laurels however following last season’s success bringing in Glentoran pair Navid Nasseri and Conor Pepper, Coleraine goalkeeper Chris Johns and former Motherwell striker Christy Manzinga as he aims to retain the title.
Portadown manager Matthew Tipton spoke to the Portadown media team ahead of tomorrows game and had the following to say:
This week we look forward to welcoming Linfield to Shamrock. During our time in the championship these were the days that we looked forward to & we will embrace the day & the challenge ahead.
Linfield come into the game top of the table & in my opinion the best team in the league so we know it’s going to be a tough game. However as we always do we will set our game up to get the best out of ourselves with intent to get all 3 points.
We had some bad news on the injury front with Callum McVeighs scan coming back showing he’s a torn cruciate, torn medial & torn cartilage. Massively disappointing for him as a young lad of great promise but now we must support him as he looks towards his rehabilitation over the next year.
A REMINDER THAT TOMORROWS GAME IS ALL TICKET – ALL TICKETS ARE NOW SOLD OUT FOR THE GAME SO PLEASE DON’T COME TO SHAMROCK PARK IF YOU HAVEN’T A TICKET TO ATTEND
MATCH SPONSOR – David Jameson Roofing
BALL SPONSOR – David Jameson Roofing
PSS MAN OF THE MATCH SPONSOR – Sure Recruitment NI
Tomorrows game will be live streamed by WeArePortsTV LIVE via https://www.247.tv/niprem
The officials are – Referee – Lee Tavinder / Assistant 1 – Adam Jeffrey / Assistant 2 – Mark O’Brien / 4th official – Tim Marshall
Last Five Head to Head (All competitions)
Tuesday 4 December 2018 – Portadown 1 (Carmichael) Linfield 2 (O’Connor, Stewart)
Friday 17 February 2017 – Linfield 1 (Carson) Portadown 1 (Foley)
Saturday 26 November 2016 – Portadown 0 Linfield 5 (Lowey, Smyth, Millar, Mulgrew, Stafford)
Saturday 10 September 2016 – Linfield 4 (Gaynor, Stafford, Smyth, Burns) Portadown 1 (Garrett)
Friday 12 February 2016 – Portadown 2 (McAllister, Lowry) Linfield 1 (Clarke)
Last Five Head to Head at Shamrock Park (All competitions)
Tuesday 4 December 2018 – Portadown 1 (Carmichael) Linfield 2 (O’Connor, Stewart)
Saturday 26 November 2016 – Portadown 0 Linfield 5 (Lowey, Smyth, Millar, Mulgrew, Stafford)
Friday 12 February 2016 – Portadown 2 (McAllister, Lowry) Linfield 1 (Clarke)
Saturday 28 November 2015 – Portadown 2 (Casement, Soares) Linfield 0
Saturday 25 April 2015 – Portadown 1 (Murray) Linfield 1 (Burns)