Portadown are back in Danske Bank Premiership action tomorrow (Sat 3 April) when we take on Glentoran at the Oval.
Glentoran come into the game on the back of four wins in their last five Danske Bank Premiership games including a 1-0 win over Crusaders last time out thanks to an injury time goal through Jay Donnelly, Portadown were desperately unlucky against Crusaders on Tuesday evening in their last Premiership outing going down 2-1 after taking the lead through Adam Salley only for the Crues to score two goals in a minute to secure the three points.
The two clubs met previously on 16th February 2021 at Shamrock Park with Glentoran winning 3-1 thanks to goals from Conor McMenamin, a Hrvoje Plum penalty and Jay Donnelly, Lee Bonis was the Ports goal scorer with the Ports being reduced to 10 men after Greg Hall seen red for handling on the line. The last meeting between the two clubs at the Oval was on 2 January 2021 with Glentoran running out 2-1 winners thanks to goals from Patrick McClean and Jay Donnelly.
The last time the Ports were victorious over Glentoran was back in December 2015 when we ran out 5-3 winners at Shamrock Park in one of many classic Ports v Glens games over the years, Ports scorers that evening were Gary Twigg with two, Darren Murray with two and a Robert Garrett goal – Glens goals came from Curtis Allen (2) and Marcus Kane. For Portadown’s last win at the Oval you have to go back to December 2013 when goals from Gary Twigg and Darren Murray seen the Ports run out 2-0 winners and bringing an end to Glentoran’s 8 game unbeaten run.
Glentoran have won the last five games between the clubs in all competitions including an Irish Cup tie on penalties and have also won four of the last five meetings at the Oval.
Glentoran manager Mick McDermott has stated that he has almost a healthy team with only Conor McMenamin still to recover from injury however they’re’ still assessing the position with his toe injury
This is what Portadown manager Matthew Tipton had to say ahead of tomorrows game against Glentoran
Both Paul Finnegan & Eamon Scannell came through a light session last night so that is a positive as we look forward to going to the Oval tomorrow. Whether both of them will be fit to start will be a decision I’ll make when weighing it up against the sheer volume of games we are facing.
Though disappointed with the defeat on Tuesday we have watched the game back & feel that there is plenty of positives to take from the game. We now are putting ourselves in positions to win games but need to make sure we don’t switch off at critical moments.
On the occasions we have played Glentoran this season I have felt they are up there with the best in the league & I feel they still have the capability to push Linfield & Coleraine all the way for the title so we know we have to be at the top of our game tomorrow.
The game will be live streamed at a cost of £7 via https://www.247.tv/niprem
The officials are – Referee –/ Assistant 1 –/ Assistant 2 – / 4th official –
Form (LAST FIVE ALL COMPETITIONS – MOST RECENT GAME LAST)
- Glentoran – W, L, W, W, W (3rd in DBP)
- Portadown – L, W, L, L, L (10th in DBP)
Last Five Head to Head (All competitions)
- Tuesday 16 February 2021 – Portadown 1 (Bonis) Glentoran 3 (McMenamin, Plum, Donnelly)
- Saturday 2 January 2021 – Glentoran 2 (McClean, Donnelly) Portadown 1 (Salley)
- Saturday 4 January 2020 – Glentoran 2 (Plum (pen), Frazer) Portadown 2 (Bonis, McKenna)
- Saturday 22 April 2017 – Glentoran 3 (Allen x2, E.Foley) Portadown 0
- Tuesday 3 January 2017 – Portadown 0 Glentoran 5 (Allen x2, Novo, Lavery, Smith)
Last Five Head to Head at the Oval (All competitions)
- Saturday 2 January 2021 – Glentoran 2 (McClean, Donnelly) Portadown 1 (Salley)
- Saturday 4 January 2020 – Glentoran 2 (Plum (pen), Frazer) Portadown 2 (Bonis, McKenna)
- Saturday 22 April 2017 – Glentoran 3 (Allen x2, E.Foley) Portadown 0
- Saturday 5 November 2016 – Glentoran 0 Portadown 0
- Saturday 19 March 2016 – Glentoran 2 (Allen x2) Portadown 1 (Soares)