Portadown are back in Danske Bank Premiership action this evening (Tues 30 March) when take on Crusaders at Shamrock Park.
Crusaders come into the game on the back of four straight defeats in the Danske Bank Premiership including last Saturdays 1-0 reverse to Glentoran at the Oval when Jay Donnelly struck in injury time, a dip in form which has seen them slip into the bottom six places in the league with them currently occupying 7th place. Portadown suffered a 1-0 reverse to reigning champions Linfield in Saturday evenings live BBC iPlayer game, their fourth defeat in their last five Premiership games.
The last time the two clubs met was in January this year at Shamrock Park when a 89th minute Lee Bonis goal secured a 2-2 draw for the Ports after Crusaders had led twice through Declan Caddell and Paul Heatley with a Adam McCallum equaliser for Portadown sandwiched in between.
Crusaders have won 6 out of the last 8 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.
An interesting stat ahead of this evenings game is there has been a first half goal scored in each of Portadown’s last 9 games in a row.
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 – The Wiggins Family
The officials are – Referee – Stephen Gregg / Assistant 1 – Stephen Donaldson / Assistant 2 – Paul Robinson/ 4th official – Louise Thompson
Form (LAST FIVE ALL COMPETITIONS – MOST RECENT GAME LAST)
- Portadown – L, L, W, L, L (10th in DBP)
- Crusaders – W, L, L, L, L (7th in DBP)
Last Five Head to Head (All competitions)
- Tuesday 26 January 2021 – Portadown 2 (McCallum, Bonis) Crusaders 2 (Caddell, Heatley)
- 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)
Last Five Head to Head at Shamrock Park (All competitions)
- Tuesday 26 January 2021 – Portadown 2 (McCallum, Bonis) Crusaders 2 (Caddell, Heatley)
- 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)