Portadown return to Shamrock Park tomorrow (Sat 27 March) for Danske Bank Premiership action as they take on reigning champions Linfield with a 5:30pm kick off, streamed live on the BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport NI website.
The Blues are coming off the back of a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Ballymena United at the Showgrounds on Tuesday and will be without the suspended Joel Cooper who received his marching orders in that game as well as Shayne Lavery who is away on international duty with Northern Ireland, Portadown return to action following a disappointing 5-3 defeat to Carrick Rangers on Tuesday evening also so both teams will be keen to turn around their fortunes tomorrow evening.
The last time the two teams met was in February with Linfield running out 3-0 winners at Windsor Park thanks to a Shayne Lavery hat trick, the last time the two teams met at Shamrock Park was earlier this season (November 2020) when Linfield ran out 2-1 winners thanks to goals from Kirk Millar and Andy Waterworth while Lee Bonis replied for the Ports.
Portadown have a decent recent league record against Linfield at Shamrock Park, winning three of the last six. Portadown’s last league victory over Linfield at Shamrock Park was back in February 2016 when goals from former Linfield players Mark McAllister & Philip Lowry secured a 2-1 win in a game which also seen Ken Oman dismissed for Portadown, Portadown would actually do the home double over Linfield that 2015/16 season as they also defeated Linfield 2-0 in November 2015 with goals from another ex Linfield player Chris Casement as well as a late goal from Marcio Soares.
This is what Matthew Tipton had to say ahead of Saturdays game
Tomorrow night sees us back at home against Linfield. After the madness of Tuesday night I’m hoping that we can settle back into a more solid shape tomorrow evening. Whilst thoroughly disappointed with Tuesday I think it’s a one off occasion where we made individual errors that were punished.
What I do want to see more of is the attacking play we produced but with a disciplined approach especially from set pieces which was our undoing on Tuesday. This discipline comes from not giving silly free kicks away & then being disciplined to stay with our men regardless if we win the first ball.
In terms of injuries I’m not 100% certain on anyone at the minute so it’s a case of assessing the players today & tomorrow then making a call on those that are carrying the least niggles as we know we are going to be physically at our best to compete tomorrow.
MATCH SPONSOR – MANFREIGHT
MATCH BALL SPONSOR – PAUL THOMPSON FREIGHT
PSS MAN OF THE MATCH SPONSOR – Cecil Kerr
This evenings game will be streamed live on the BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport NI website
The officials are – Referee – Ross Dunlop / Assistant 1 – Stephen Bell / Assistant 2 – Ken Ross / 4th official – Ben McMaster
Form (LAST FIVE ALL COMPETITIONS – MOST RECENT GAME LAST)
- Portadown – W, L, L, W, L (10th in DBP)
- Linfield – W, W, W, W, L (1st in DBP)
Last Five Head to Head (All competitions)
- Tuesday 2 February 2021 – Linfield 3 (Lavery x3) Portadown 0
- 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)
Last Five Head to Head at Shamrock Park (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)
- 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