Portadown are back in Danske Bank Premiership action this evening (2 Feb) when we travel to the National Stadium at Windsor Park to take on reigning Premiership champions Linfield.

Linfield come into the game off the back of a 4-3 defeat to Cliftonville while Portadown suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Warrenpoint Town on Saturday so both teams will be keen to turn around their fortunes by getting 3 points this evening.

Earlier this week Linfield added former Newcastle United defender Michael Newberry and former Rangers midfielder Cammy Palmer to their ranks while Daniel Kearns departed for Cliftonville and midfielder Bastien Hery left for Bohemians as manager David Healy rejigs his squad as he attempts to hold on to Linfield’s Premiership crown.

The last time the two teams met was earlier this season (November) when Linfield ran out 2-1 winners at Shamrock Park thanks to goals from Kirk Millar and Andy Waterworth while Lee Bonis replied for the Ports.

Trips to Windsor Park for have proved notoriously difficult for the men from Shamrock with the Ports only coming away with the 3 points once in almost 19 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. The Ports however can boast of a 1-0 victory Linfield at Windsor Park in the Co-Operative Insurance League Cup Quarter Final second leg in 2008 thanks to a Andy Hunter header.

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 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.

Here’s what Portadown manager Matthew Tipton had to say about this evenings game:

We go into tonight’s game after a disappointing result on Saturday however what we have done is look at the positives from Saturday & Tuesday with a view to reinforcing to the players what we do well & to make sure we continue doing the right things for 90 minutes. We are a better team when we play on the front foot so that will be the message tonight.

In terms of injuries we obviously still have Paddy & Callum out long term with Luke Wilson still missing through illness (not covid!!) & all 3 are a big miss for us. Eamon Scannell is not available tonight due to terms of his move from Linfield to us.

 

This evenings game will be live streamed via https://www.247.tv/niprem

The officials are – Referee – Shane Andrews / Assistant 1 – George Argyropoulos  / Assistant 2 – Stephen Bell / 4th official – Barry Monaghan

 

Form (LAST FIVE ALL COMPETITIONS – MOST RECENT GAME LAST)

  • Linfield – L, W, W, W, L (1st in DBP)
  • Portadown –  W, L, L, D, L (10th in DBP)

 

Last Five Head to Head (All competitions)

  • Saturday 7 November 2020 – Portadown 1 (Bonis) Linfield 2 (Millar, Waterworth)
  • 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)

 

Last Five Head to Head at Windsor Park (All competitions)

  • Friday 17 February 2017 – Linfield 1 (Carson) Portadown 1 (Foley)
  • Saturday 10 September 2016 – Linfield 4 (Gaynor, Stafford, Smyth, Burns)  Portadown 1 (Garrett)
  • Saturday 29 August 2015 – Linfield 3 (Waterworth 2, Bates) Portadown 0
  • Friday 20 February 2015 – Linfield 1 (Feeney) Portadown 2 (Callacher, Mackle)
  • Saturday 20 December 2014 – Linfield 3 (Callacher, Burns, Morrow) Portadown 2 (Mackle, McAllister)