Portadown are back in Danske Bank Premiership action this Saturday (Sat 19 Feb) when we take on Linfield at the National Stadium, kick off 3pm.
Linfield come into the game off the back of a 1-0 defeat in the top of the table ‘Belfast Big Two’ derby to Glentoran on Friday evening at the Oval while the Ports were also on the wrong end of a derby day result, losing 3-0 to Glenavon in the Mid-Ulster derby at Mourneview Park on Saturday.
The last time the two teams met was in November at Shamrock Park with the two sides playing out a 0-0 draw. Previous to that Linfield had ran out 3-2 winners at Shamrock Park in September in an exciting game which saw Portadown lead twice through goals from Ruairi Croskery and Lee Bonis before a 85th minute sizzler from distance from Christy Manzinga saw David Healy’s men head back up the M1 with all three points.
Portadown’s recent league record against Linfield at the National Stadium makes for miserable reading with only one win in the last twenty, that coming back in February 2015 with a 88th minute strike from Sean Mackle securing a 2-1 victory for Ronnie McFall’s men and securing their first league win at the National Stadium since a Gary Hamilton goal saw the Ports win 1-0 back in February 2002. Portadown’s last visit to the National Stadium was back in February 2021 with the Blues winning 3-0 thanks to a Shayne Lavery hat trick.
Portadown will be without the suspended Katlego Mashigo who received his marching orders in Saturday’s defeat to Glenavon and will now be suspended for 3 games however Adam Salley should return to the squad after missing Saturdays defeat due to suspension.
Here’s what Portadown manager Paul Doolin has to say ahead of Saturdays game
We’ve two suspensions tomorrow in the form of Paul Finnegan and Katlego Mashigo and also a few injury concerns as well so it’s a case of changing the starting eleven once more.
People may say that the team needed changing after Saturdays defeat to Glenavon, we didn’t start well against Glenavon – which was key to our draw against Glentoran, however I thought we were a lot better in the second half at Mourneview.
It’ll be a tough game against Linfield and they’ll be wanting to make up ground on Glentoran but what a place Windsor Park is for players to go and play and we’ve got to embrace that.
It’s tough at the moment and I know it sounds like I’m always saying that, but you’ve got to be mentally tough at times like these as the sun doesn’t always shine.
Online tickets are now available for this Saturdays (19 Feb) game against Linfield at the National Stadium via the link below.
https://www.linfieldfc.com/buytickets-awaysupportersales.aspx
The officials are – Referee – Steven Gregg / Assistant 1 – Ryan Kelsey / Assistant 2 – Ken Ross / 4th official – Shane McGonigle
Saturdays game against Linfield will be live streamed by Linfield on 247.tv via https://www.247.tv/gaa/niprem/video/1188745-linfield-v-portadown-saturday-19th-feb-2022-3-00pm
Supporters Club Buses travelling:
- PFC Travel Club – Departing Shamrock Park at 1:45pm & at J.D Tipler’s at 2pm
- Richhill Reds – Departing the Square in Richhill at 1:30pm & the Property Spot in Portadown at 2:15pm
- Shamrock Reds – Departing Shamrock Park at 2pm
Form (LAST FIVE PREMIERSHIP GAMES – MOST RECENT PREMIERSHIP GAME LAST)
- Linfield – W, D, L, W, L (2nd in DBP)
- Portadown – L, L, L, D, L (11th in DBP)
Last Five Head to Head (All competitions)
- Saturday 6 November – Portadown 0 Linfield 0
- Saturday 11 September 2021 – Portadown 2 (Croskery, Bonis) Linfield 3 (Manzinga x2, Green)
- Saturday 27th March 2021 – Portadown 0 Linfield 1 (Stewart)
- Tuesday 2 February 2021 – Linfield 3 (Lavery x3) Portadown 0
- Saturday 7 November 2020 – Portadown 1 (Bonis) Linfield 2 (Millar, Waterworth)
Last Five Head to Head at the National Stadium (All competitions)
- Tuesday 2 February 2021 – Linfield 3 (Lavery x3) Portadown 0
- Friday 17 February 2017 – Linfield 1 (J.Carson) Portadown 1 (Foley)
- Saturday 10 September 2016 – Linfield 4 (Gaynor, Stafford, Smyth, A.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 og, Mackle)