Portadown are back in Danske Bank Premiership action tomorrow (Sat 29 April) when we take on Glenavon at Mourneview Park, kick off 5:30pm.
Portadown come into the game off the back of last weekends 3-2 defeat to Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park, a result which ultimately condemned Niall Currie’s side to Championship football next season after a brave battle against the drop which had seen the Ports sitting on one solitary league point up until 10th December. Glenavon meanwhile were 3-1 winners over Carrick Rangers at the Loughview Leisure Arena last time out and have secured that European play-off place after confirming a 7th position finish.
The two sides have met on three occasions this season with the Ports picking up their first point of the campaign with a 1-1 draw against Glenavon back in September with Oisin Conaty on target in the live BBC covered fixture, Glenavon would take the Boxing Day bragging rights after a 2-1 win at Mourneview Park with Niall Currie’s side picking up the 3 points in the last meeting between the clubs back in February with goals from Stephen Teggart and a brace from Alan O’Sullivan securing a 3-1 win for the Ports at Shamrock Park.
Glenavon have won the last 4 meetings between the sides at Mourneview Park with Portadown’s last victory in Lurgan coming courtesy of a 4-2 win back on the opening day of the 2020/21 season with goals from Lee Bonis, Stephen Murray (2) & Aaron Burns.
Portadown will welcome back Barney McKeown after suspension but will be without the injured duo of Chris Rodgers & Paddy McNally.
Portadown Manager Niall Currie had the following preview for supporters
Obviously it’s been a really tough week for everybody, not just management and players but I know our supporters have went through a tough week as well. It’s been difficult getting ourselves going again but we’ve been sitting down with a few players to get the wheels in motion for next season now we know our fate.
We have to go into tomorrows game and perform for those supporters going to Mourneview Park and pay their money and go with with their families and so forth, we have an obligation to finish the season properly – it’s still a Mid-Ulster derby and I know last Saturday was a ‘pin in the balloon’ moment for everybody but we’ve got to make sure we sign off properly in our last Premiership game for a small time.
We have Chris Rodgers out – a special mention actually for Chris as he’s played these last three games with a broken wrist and refused to into plaster so he could play and would have delayed it again for this game as well if needed. Barney (McKeown) is back but Paddy McNally is still missing so we’ll have to jiggle things about a bit.
We look forward to it and will make sure everyone is riled up and we hit the ground running and sign off with our fantastic supporters in the best possible way.
Match officials | Referee – Tim Marshall | Assistant Referees are Stephen Donaldson & Ryan Kelsey | Fourth Official is Raymond Crangle
Last Five Head to Head (All competitions)
- Saturday 18 February 2023 – Portadown 3 (Teggart, O’Sullivan 2) Glenavon 1 (Wallace)
- Monday 26 December 2022 – Glenavon 2 (Fitzpartick x2) Portadown 1 (McKeown)
- Friday 30 September 2022 – Portadown 1 (Conaty) Glenavon 1 (Haughey)
- Saturday 23 April 2022 – Glenavon 1 (Wallace) Portadown 0
- Saturday 12 February 2022 – Glenavon 3 (Singleton, Haughey, McCloskey) Portadown 0
Last Five Head to Head at Mourneview Park (All competitions)
- Monday 26 December 2022 – Glenavon 2 (Fitzpartick x2) Portadown 1 (McKeown)
- Saturday 23 April 2022 – Glenavon 1 (Wallace) Portadown 0
- Saturday 12 February 2022 – Glenavon 3 (Singleton, Haughey, McCloskey) Portadown 0
- Tuesday 4 May 2021 – Glenavon 4 (Fitzpatrick x2, Doyle, McCallum OG) Portadown 1 (Bonis)
- Saturday 17 October 2020 – Glenavon 2 (Singleton, Campbell) Portadown 4 (Murray x2, Bonis, Burns)
Online tickets are available for the game via https://www.glenavonfc.com/ticketing-2/
Primary School kids will be admitted free into the game with ID required on entry