Portadown are back in Danske Bank Premiership action this evening (Tues 31 August) when they take on Crusaders at Seaview, kick off 7:45pm.
Crusaders come into the game on the back of a opening day 2-0 defeat to Linfield at the National Stadium while Portadown were held to a 1-1 draw by Glenavon at Shamrock Park in their Premiership curtain raiser.
The last time the two clubs met was back in March at Shamrock Park with the Crues running out 2-1 winners thanks to goals from Aidan Wilson & Jordan Owens after Portadown had initially taken the lead through Adam Salley, Jordan Owens also saw his late penalty saved by on loan Ports GK Jacob Carney.
Crusaders have won 7 out of the last 9 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. The last time the two sides met at Seaview was in December 2020 with Stephen Baxter’s men running out comfortable 5-0 winners with goals from Jordan Owens, Paul Heatley, Adam Lecky and a brace from former Portadown midfielder Philip Lowry.
It’s been a summer of change at Seaview with 8 players departing – David Cushley, Jamie McGonigle, Thomas Logan, Gerard Doherty, Matthew Snoddy, Kyle Owens, Rodney Brown and Michael Ruddy while Brandon Doyle, Jonny Frazer, Johnny McMurray, Lewis Patterson and Josh Robinson all arrived as Stephen Baxter overhauled his squad following a second successive season of failing to qualify for Europe.
Johnny McMurray, Ross Clarke and Philip Lowry will all miss out for Crusaders tonight as they recover from injury while Portadown will continue to be without long term injury victims Paddy McNally, Luke Wilson and Callum McVeigh while Harry Anderson is away on international duty with Northern Ireland Under 21s.
Portadown manager Matthew Tipton had the following to say
After a good break over the summer we are back into the swing of playing twice a week with a trip to seaview tomorrow. We know it’s going to be a tough game v Crusaders as it always is at Seaview & especially after their opening day defeat, Stephen will have them fired up to get their season up & running.
For ourselves we have to show the same fight & passion we showed on Friday night but also add in composure to retain the ball better to create opportunities for our forward players.
We had opportunity to get some players minutes on Saturday in the reserve game at Glenavon so that’s a positive in terms of getting their minutes up.
We will definitely be without Harry Anderson who is away with the u21 squad so we wish him all the best for the week ahead & I hope it gives him a boost to come back to us firing.
Crusaders supporters are seated in the Main Stand and Harry Corry Stand while Portadown supporters will be seated in the South Terrace Stand and Fonacab Stand with online tickets available via www.crusadersfctickets.com while a pop up box office will be situated outside the main club rooms.
The officials are – Referee – Andrew Davey / Assistant 1 – Andrew Nethery / Assistant 2 – Adam Jeffrey / 4th official – Tim Marshall
Last Five Head to Head (All competitions)
- Tuesday 30 March 2021 – Portadown 1 (Salley) Crusaders 2 (Wilson, Owens)
- 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)
Last Five Head to Head at Seaview (All competitions)
- Saturday 12 December 2020 – Crusaders 5 (Owens, Heatley, Lecky, Lowry 2) Portadown 0
- Saturday 27 August 2016 – Crusaders 2 (Beverland, Coates) Portadown 1 (Beverland OG)
- Saturday 8 August 2015 – Crusaders 1 (Heatley) Portadown 2 (Murray 2)
- Friday 23 January 2015 – Crusaders 6 (Owens 3, Heatley 2, O’Carroll) Portadown 0
- Saturday 6 December 2014 – Crusaders 2 (Burns, Owens) Portadown 3 (Gault, McAllister, Murray)