Perhaps a welcome break from league football as Crusaders & Ballymena United face off to decide who makes it to next stage of the Irish League Cup. All the pre-match information is available here!
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 Crusaders and Ballymena United.
Crusaders form and stats
Crusaders have reached this Irish League Cup stage through battling and winning against Moyola Park. Last season their Irish League Cup adventure ended in the final.When playing at home in the Premiership, Crusaders have managed 2 wins, 1 draw and suffered 1 defeat from 4 games.
Crusaders are returning here after visiting Ballymena United in a Premiership game and winning with a 1-0 scoreline. J. O'Rourke scored the goal(s).
Ahead of that match, Crusaders lost 0-2 at home to Coleraine.There's a new game coming up fairly quickly for Crusaders as they are travelling to their away game against Carrick Rangers in the Premiership. That match is three days after this one.
A decent goal production from Crusaders in their home games so far, with 6 goals from 4 league matches. Crusaders have only conceded 3 from their league home games. For more goal stats, check the Statistics tab above.
Ballymena United form and stats
The traveling awayteam has defeated Annagh United in order to reach 3rd round of Irish League Cup. Last season their Irish League Cup adventure ended in the quarter-finals.The manager D. Jeffrey is not happy with the away performances in the Premiership so far, as all 4 matches have been lost. A depressing four defeats in a row for Ballymena in their away games. Unhappy days, as the last time they avoided a loss on the road was versus Dungannon Swifts.
The manager D. Jeffrey was unhappy after their last game, a Premiership match played at their home ground The Showgrounds. Ballymena suffered a 0-1 loss to Crusaders.
Prior to that match, the Ballymena United manager D. Jeffrey faced defeat when travelling to Carrick Rangers and losing 1-2.The visitors will be packing their bags again in only three days as another away game awaits: The Premiership trip to Portadown.
Many goals are not expected from the visiting Ballymena United as they have only managed to score 3 times from 4 away games in the league. Ballymena are struggling defensively in their away games, having conceded 3 goals in these matches.
Head 2 Head
Last ten meetings featuring these squads: Crusaders won eight, Ballymena United triumphed in one and we saw one draw. five games with over 2,5 goals, five matches with less than 2,5 goals.Top Goalscorers
  B. Kennedy 2 goals | A. Lecky 2 goals |  L. Millar 2 goals |
Crusaders missing players
Ballymena United missing players
| Crusaders | Ballymena United | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 13 | Played | P | 13 | 25 | ||
| 12 | 8 | Won | W | 6 | 13 | ||
| 5 | 2 | Drew | D | 1 | 3 | ||
| 8 | 3 | Lost | L | 6 | 9 | ||
| 46 | 34 | Scored | S | 26 | 53 | ||
| 28 | 12 | Conceded | C | 22 | 37 | ||
| 96% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | ||
| 80% | 85% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 92% | 88% | ||
| 52% | 69% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 85% | 76% | ||
| 48% | 69% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 54% | 48% | ||
| 12% | 15% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 31% | 28% | ||
| 44% | 46% | BTTS | BTTS | 69% | 68% | ||
| 40% | 38% | Clean Sheets | C S | 23% | 20% | ||
| 20% | 15% | Failed to Score | F T | 8% | 12% | ||
| 5.7 | 6.4 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 4.3 | 4.9 | ||
| 5 | 3.8 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 6 | 5.7 | ||
| 1.7 | 1.6 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.2 | 1.2 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 1 | 1 | ||
| 10.6 | 10.9 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 6.8 | 8.3 | ||
| 3.8 | 4.3 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 3.4 | 4 | ||
| 42% | 53% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 48% | 50% | ||
| 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 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 17 |
| 2 | Larne | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 16 |
| 3 | Linfield | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 15 |
| 4 | Coleraine | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 14 |
| 5 | Crusaders | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 13 |
| 6 | Carrick Rangers | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 13 |
| 7 | Glentoran | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 12 |
| 8 | Glenavon | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 3 | -1 | 7 |
| 9 | Ballymena United | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 11 | -8 | 4 |
| 10 | Portadown | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -9 | 4 |
| 11 | Dungannon Swifts | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | -8 | 3 |
| 12 | Warrenpoint Town | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | -13 | 3 |