A bit of déjà vu with the opening to the preview for tonights game but the Danske Bank Premiership returns for Portadown this evening after a hiatus of three and a half weeks as we welcome Crusaders to Shamrock Park, kick off 7:45pm.
Crusaders come into the game off the back of a thrilling 3-3 draw with Larne at Seaview on Saturday lunchtime while the Ports haven’t kicked a ball since a 2-1 defeat to Glentoran at the Oval on 2nd January.
The last time the two clubs met was last month (12 December 2020) when Crusaders ran out 5-0 winners, in fact the Ports have only managed one Danske Bank Premiership game since that defeat at Seaview. Crusaders have won 6 out of the last 7 meetings between the two clubs with the Ports last victory over the men from the Shore Road coming back on the opening day of the 2015/16 season when two Darren Murray goals sealed all 3 points for the Ports at Seaview.
For Portadown’s last victory over Crusaders at Shamrock Park you have to go back to April 2015 when a Tim Mouncey header sealed all 3 points for Ronnie McFall’s men, Crusaders would go on to win the title that 2014/15 season however Portadown would win 3 of the 4 league meetings between the sides and would go on to finish 4th 20 points behind the Crues.
Since Portadown’s last Danske Bank Premiership game manager Matthew Tipton has added Gareth Buchanan from Banbridge Rangers, Sam Warde from Galway United and Jacob Carney on loan from Manchester United with all three keen to the impress the coaching staff this week and make their debuts this evening. On loan Aston Villa midfielder Ben Guy who has been out injured since the opening game of the season may also figure at some point this evening.
This evenings game will be live streamed by We Are Ports TV LIVE via https://www.247.tv/niprem
PSS Man of the Match Sponsor – Des Bennett
The officials are – Referee – Steven Gregg / Assistant 1 – Adam Jeffrey / Assistant 2 – Stephen Bell / 4th official – Mark Dillon
Form (LAST FIVE ALL COMPETITIONS – MOST RECENT GAME LAST)
- Portadown – L, D, W, L, L (10th in DBP)
- Crusaders – W, W, W, D, D (3rd in DBP)
Last Five Head to Head (All competitions)
- Saturday 12 December 2020 – Crusaders 5 (Owens, Heatley, Lowry x2, Lecky) Portadown 0
- Saturday 25 February 2017 – Portadown 1 (Soares) Crusaders 1 (Owens)
- Saturday 12 November 2016 – Portadown 0 Crusaders 1 (Whyte)
- Wednesday 12 October 2016 – Portadown 3 (Haire 2, Hughes) Crusaders 4 (Soares, Carson OG, Heatley, Carvill)
- Saturday 27 August 2016 – Crusaders 2 (Beverland, Coates) Portadown 1 (Beverland OG)
Last Five Head to Head at Shamrock Park (All competitions)
- Saturday 25 February 2017 – Portadown 1 (Soares) Crusaders 1 (Owens)
- Saturday 12 November 2016 – Portadown 0 Crusaders 1 (Whyte)
- Wednesday 12 October 2016 – Portadown 3 (Haire 2, Hughes) Crusaders 4 (Soares, Carson OG, Heatley, Carvill)
- Saturday 23 January 2016 – Portadown 0 Crusaders 1 (Robinson)
- Saturday 31 October 2015 – Portadown 1 (Murray) Crusaders 3 (Coates, Owens, Heatley)