National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Ballyclare Comrades or Linfield that keep their silverware dream alive.
It’s busy days for these teams as both were in action only a few days ago. There’s no rest for the wicked, or in this case; no rest for Ballyclare and Linfield.
Ballyclare Comrades form and stats
Action has already taken place for Ballyclare Comrades in Irish League Cup as they have defeated Queen's University to reach the 2nd Round. Last season their Irish League Cup adventure ended in the 2nd round.The story so far in the Championship for Ballyclare Comrades at their home stadium (Dixon Park) is 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat.
Ballyclare are returning here after visiting Queen's University in a Championship game and winning with a 3-1 scoreline.
Before that, Ballyclare drew at home versus Knockbreda.Another home game is coming up fairly shortly for the hosts, as Newry City AFC are coming to town in four days.
Goals decide football matches and Ballyclare are scoring many of them at home; 8 on target from 4 league matches. On the other hand, Ballyclare have conceded 5 goals.
Linfield form and stats
Linfield's mission in Irish League Cup last season failed in the semi-finals.1 win, 0 draws and 0 losses. That’s the product of Linfield playing as the away team in the Premiership this season. It could be a hat trick of victories away for Linfield, as they have won on their previous two travels.
Two travels in a row for Linfield, whose manager D. Healy could celebrate last time after the Premiership win against Portadown.
Before that, Linfield secured a home win against Crusaders with the score 2-0.Again, the away team are huge favourites in this match and any other result would be an upset. We checked our Tipsway database for earlier, recent games with Linfield given similar win odds in an away game. This check revealed nine matches with nine wins as expected, zero draws and zero surprise home wins. The favourites won five of these games by at least two goals.
The visitors are returning home after this fixture, hosting Coleraine in just four days.
As for goals scored and conceded in the league games away so far, Linfield has managed 3 goals and let in 2 from 1 match.
Head 2 Head
Top Goalscorers
  C. Manzinga 4 goals |  M. Green 1 goals |
Ballyclare Comrades missing players
Linfield missing players
| Ballyclare Comrades | Linfield | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 15 | Played | P | 12 | 25 | ||
| 11 | 6 | Won | W | 5 | 13 | ||
| 4 | 3 | Drew | D | 3 | 3 | ||
| 10 | 6 | Lost | L | 4 | 9 | ||
| 45 | 23 | Scored | S | 17 | 44 | ||
| 43 | 21 | Conceded | C | 16 | 33 | ||
| 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 92% | 96% | ||
| 92% | 87% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 83% | 88% | ||
| 64% | 47% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 50% | 60% | ||
| 44% | 27% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 33% | 32% | ||
| 20% | 13% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 17% | 20% | ||
| 60% | 53% | BTTS | BTTS | 67% | 52% | ||
| 20% | 27% | Clean Sheets | C S | 33% | 36% | ||
| 20% | 20% | Failed to Score | F T | 8% | 16% | ||
| 2.8 | 3 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 7.1 | 7.8 | ||
| 3.6 | 3.7 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 4.8 | 4.5 | ||
| 1.1 | 0.7 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.8 | 1.4 | ||
| 1 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 1 | 2 | ||
| 6.2 | 6.1 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 9.7 | 10 | ||
| 2.9 | 2.4 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 3.8 | 4.3 | ||
| 42% | 36% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 37% | 46% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Newry City AFC | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 18 |
| 2 | Ards | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 16 |
| 3 | Annagh United | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 13 |
| 4 | Ballyclare Comrades | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 13 |
| 5 | Loughgall | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 12 |
| 6 | H&W Welders | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 12 |
| 7 | Ballinamallard United | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 11 |
| 8 | Dergview | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 8 |
| 9 | Knockbreda | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 | -6 | 8 |
| 10 | Institute | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 10 | -11 | 6 |
| 11 | Queen's University | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -15 | 3 |
| 12 | Dundela | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | -9 | 1 |
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Cliftonville | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
| 2 | Larne | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 9 |
| 3 | Coleraine | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| 4 | Glentoran | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 5 | Linfield | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 6 | Carrick Rangers | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 7 | Crusaders | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 8 | Glenavon | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 9 | Warrenpoint Town | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -8 | 3 |
| 10 | Portadown | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -6 | 1 |
| 11 | Ballymena United | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 0 |
| 12 | Dungannon Swifts | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -6 | 0 |