With their 25 point advantage in the league table, Ballymena United fans are hoping to see their team collect maximum points from this game against Carrick Rangers.
- Ballymena United haven’t played a single 0-0 game at home.
- Carrick Rangers have the most conceded goals (63) in Premiership
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 Ballymena United and Carrick Rangers.
Ballymena United form and stats
5 victories, 3 draws and 5 defeats. That’s what Ballymena United have to build on here at The Showgrounds in the Premiership. Nine out of nine points from the last three home games for Ballymena United, and the home supporters are ready to scream their lungs out to keep the winning streak alive.
Ballymena's previous game was a Premiership match also played at home, ending 5-1 versus Dungannon Swifts (placed 12th). The home side are looking to build on that result. Ahead of that match, Ballymena won a home game hosting Linfield (2-1).
As mentioned above, Ballymena United "killed" Dungannon Swifts in their previous game. They need to reset completely for this one and beware of complacency.
The match schedule is unforgiving for Ballymena as they have a new game in only three days, a Premiership match thankfully also at home. Crusaders are visiting.
Ballymena has scored 19 league goals at home this season, in 13 matches. 17 goals have been conceded.
Carrick Rangers form and stats
The hunting on away grounds haven’t been very fruitful for Carrick Rangers, who have the most conceded goals (63) in Premiership, so far with only 8 points returning home. The records show 2-2-8 (win-draw-lose). Carrick has lost their two previous away games and are eager to kill a negative trend in its infancy.
Carrick delivered a 1-1 draw playing at home against Warrenpoint Town (placed 9th) in their previous match; a Premiership game. A home win before that, celebrating 5-3 vs Portadown.
The schedule is very tough for Carrick Rangers now as they have to travel again shortly after this match. A Premiership game at Larne is waiting in only four days.
The attacking power of Carrick when travelling is not overwhelming with 8 goals scored from 12 league matches away. People interested in "over 2,5 goals" betting will like to know that Carrick concede an average of more than 2,5 goals per away match all on their own.
Head 2 Head
Ballymena and Carrick Rangers have met before this season: Carrick Rangers - Ballymena United 0-2. Last ten meetings between the teams: Ballymena won seven, Carrick Rangers won two and one draw. five games with over 2,5 goals, five matches with two goals or less.Top Goalscorers
  P. McElroy 10 goals | S. McCartan 9 goals |  C. Loughran 9 goals |
Ballymena United missing players
Carrick Rangers missing players
| Ballymena United | Carrick Rangers | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 27 | 13 | 4 | Played | P | 4 | 12 | 26 |
| 12 | 5 | 3 | Won | W | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 6 | 3 | 0 | Drew | D | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 9 | 5 | 1 | Lost | L | 1 | 8 | 17 |
| 42 | 19 | 9 | Scored | S | 5 | 8 | 26 |
| 30 | 17 | 3 | Conceded | C | 6 | 32 | 63 |
| 96% | 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | 96% |
| 81% | 85% | 75% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 100% | 92% | 88% |
| 44% | 38% | 50% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 50% | 50% | 54% |
| 22% | 23% | 25% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 25% | 33% | 42% |
| 15% | 23% | 25% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 25% | 27% |
| 56% | 62% | 50% | BTTS | BTTS | 75% | 33% | 50% |
| 30% | 15% | 25% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 8% | 8% |
| 19% | 23% | 25% | Failed to Score | F T | 25% | 58% | 46% |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.5 | 1.8 | 1 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.7 |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 9.5 | 10.2 | 14.2 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 5.8 | 5.2 | 5.7 |
| 5 | 4.8 | 6.5 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.6 |
| 32% | 31% | 35% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 50% | 28% | 38% |
- Ballymena United have scored at least twice as many goals at home as Carrick Rangers have scored away.
- Ballymena United haven’t played a single 0-0 game at home.
- Carrick Rangers have conceded at least twice as many goals as they have scored.
- Carrick Rangers have the fewest clean sheets (1) away in Premiership
- Carrick Rangers have the fewest clean sheets (2) in Premiership
- Carrick Rangers have the most conceded goals (63) in Premiership
- Carrick Rangers have the most conceded goals in the first half (31) in Premiership
- Carrick Rangers haven’t played a single 0-0 game away.
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Linfield | 28 | 19 | 3 | 6 | 67 | 28 | 15 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 45 | 7 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 22 | 21 | 39 | 60 |
| 2 | Coleraine | 26 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 40 | 25 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 13 | 15 | 50 |
| 3 | Glentoran | 26 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 45 | 22 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 24 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 21 | 15 | 23 | 48 |
| 4 | Larne | 26 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 42 | 26 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 13 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 21 | 13 | 16 | 45 |
| 5 | Cliftonville | 27 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 38 | 30 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 29 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 8 | 43 |
| 6 | Ballymena United | 27 | 12 | 6 | 9 | 42 | 30 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 23 | 13 | 12 | 42 |
| 7 | Crusaders | 27 | 12 | 3 | 12 | 45 | 35 | 14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 25 | 15 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 20 | 20 | 10 | 39 |
| 8 | Glenavon | 26 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 40 | 44 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 21 | 23 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 19 | 21 | -4 | 36 |
| 9 | Warrenpoint Town | 26 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 27 | 45 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 13 | 30 | -18 | 26 |
| 10 | Portadown | 25 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 29 | 53 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 19 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 34 | -24 | 18 |
| 11 | Carrick Rangers | 26 | 4 | 5 | 17 | 26 | 63 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 18 | 31 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 32 | -37 | 17 |
| 12 | Dungannon Swifts | 26 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 17 | 57 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 11 | 25 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 32 | -40 | 15 |