Portadown are back in Danske Bank Premiership action tomorrow afternoon (Sat 3 September) when we take on Cliftonville at Shamrock Park, kick off 3pm.

Cliftonville come into the game off the back of a 4-2 victory over Dungannon Swifts at Solitude thanks to goals from Ronan Hale, Chris Gallagher, Chris Curran & a Michael Ruddy OG – their third win from their opening four Premiership games. On the other hand Portadown suffered a 3-0 defeat to Glentoran last time out, a fourth consecutive Premiership defeat on the spin meaning the Ports have yet to register a point from their opening four games.

Cliftonville haven’t sat still after finishing runners up to Linfield in 2021/22, over the summer they’ve added Nathan Gartside (Derry City), Stephen Mallon (Bohemians), Luke Turner (Aberdeen), Jamie Robinson (Chesterfield), Flynn Talley (on loan from Brighton), Ronan Hale (Larne) as well as former Portadown players Gerard Storey (Derry City) and Aaron Traynor (Coleraine) to their ranks while Jamie Harney, Aaron Donnelly, Daniel Kearns, Paul O’Neill and Luke McNicholas have all departed Solitude as manager Paddy McLaughlin looks at mounting another title challenge.

The last time the two clubs met was at Shamrock Park was in April with Cliftonville running out 2-0 winners thanks to a Joe Gormley brace.

Portadown have a pretty sorry recent record at Shamrock Park against Cliftonville losing nine of the last twelve and without a win in the last sixteen on home soil. The last win over Cliftonville at Shamrock Park came back in February 2011 with goals from Alan Cawley and Kevin Braniff. In fact Portadown are without a win against Paddy McLaughlin’s men home and away in the last nineteen games with the last victory against Cliftonville coming in January 2014 at Solitude thanks to a Gary Twigg goal.

Portadown duo Tumelo Tlou and Josh Archer are in line for their Portadown debuts while Jordan Jenkins returns to the squad after missing the Glentoran game due to the loan rule.

The officials are Referee – Declan Hassan / Assistant 1 – David Burns / Assistant 2 – Brian Wilson / 4th official – Andrew Davey

Here’s what Portadown captain Paddy McNally had to say about tomorrows game

Another tough game to look forward to at home against one of the leagues best sides.

It’s one we’re really looking forward going into and making an impact in. With there being no mid week game we have worked really hard in terms of training and those minutes on the training pitch together can only benefit us going forward as a new team.

Last Five Head to Head (All competitions)

  • Tuesday 5 April 2022 – Portadown 0 Cliftonville 2 (Gormley x2)
  • Saturday 11 December 2021 – Portadown 1 (S.Teggart) Cliftonville 1 (O’Neill)
  • Tuesday 9 November 2021 – Portadown 1 (Bonis) Cliftonville 2 (Doherty, Kearns)
  • Tuesday 2 November 2021 – Cliftonville 4 (Gormley x2, Finnegan OG, R.Curran (P)) Portadown 0
  • Saturday 17 April 2021 – Portadown 1 (Tilney) Cliftonville 2 (Curran x2)

 

Last Five Head to Head at Shamrock Park (All competitions)

  • Tuesday 5 April 2022 – Portadown 0 Cliftonville 2 (Gormley x2)
  • Saturday 11 December 2021 – Portadown 1 (S.Teggart) Cliftonville 1 (O’Neill)
  • Tuesday 9 November 2021 – Portadown 1 (Bonis) Cliftonville 2 (Doherty, Kearns)
  • Saturday 17 April 2021 – Portadown 1 (Tilney) Cliftonville 2 (R.Curran x2)
  • Saturday 13 February 2021 – Portadown 1 (McCallum) Cliftonville 1 (Hale)

 

MATCH SPONSOR – PFC Business Club

 

COMMUNITY GUESTS – Mahon Care Home Residents

 

Online tickets for the game are available via https://tickets.portadownfc.co.uk/fixtures/ / A cash turnstile will be available for HOME SUPPORTERS ONLY, any Cliftonville supporters trying to or found to gain access to the home stand will face ejection from the stadium.

 

While online tickets for matches still remain, a cash gate is now also available at each game at Shamrock Park for HOME SUPPORTERS ONLY (except in the event where a game has sold out online in advance of the game). We would add however that purchasing your ticket online remains the best way to guarantee your seat for games and would still actively encourage supporters to avail of the facility.

 

For those unable to make it to Shamrock Park this evening the game will be live streamed on We Are Ports TV LIVE, the cost to purchase the game is £10 via https://portstv.com/?memberpressproduct=portadown-fc-vs-cliftonville

 

Matchday Live returns tomorrow with Jonny Dunlop and Dave Wiggins on the official Portadown YouTube & Facebook pages were they will be previewing the Cliftonville game as well as chatting to players and management to get their views on the game.

 

A reminder about the Ports Hub facility at games at Shamrock Park which give you match info, player stats and exclusive interviews. To access the Ports Hub simply scan the QR code placed on every other seat’s backrest at Shamrock Park (as well as in the clubrooms) and you will give brought to a host of great content, think of it as your digital matchday programme!