A home win is expected from this fixture if the league table is anything to judge by. The home fans are optimistic that the difference between 2nd and 9th place in the table will show on the pitch.
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 Institute.
Ballymena United form and stats
Ballymena United has performed well at The Showgrounds so far this season with 10 wins from 14 matches. Points have also been lost, 3 after draws and 1 from defeats.The Ballymena United fans got no joy from their last match, a Premiership game also here at The Showgrounds: A 0-2 defeat against Glentoran. In the game before, an away victory match versus Coleraine with a 4-0 scoreline.
The Premiership match against Warrenpoint Town is next on the list for Ballymena United, coming up only three days after this. It is played on a neutral arena.
Ballymena United can score goals in their home matches. After 31 matches they have found the net 31 times. Ballymena United's goalkeeper has had to pick the ball out of their own net 15 times.
Institute form and stats
Playing away, Institute have won 5 games, drawn 3 and suffered 8 defeats so far this season. They have scored 21 goals and conceded 29 times. Institute seem to be suffering from homesickness with two consecutive losses away. Third time lucky?Institute play their second straight away game, having lost the previous one 0-2 to Linfield. It was a defeat before that one as the away game against Cliftonville wasn't a success with a 0-1 loss.
After this away game Institute are travelling again fairly soon, but not to a normal away game. The Premiership match versus Coleraine is played at a neutral venue in only three days.
Institute have scored 21 goals on their travels this season, 31 away games. Defensive performances away have varied in quality as Institute have conceded 29 goals on the road.
Head 2 Head
This is the result when the teams met earlier this season; Institute - Ballymena United 1-2. Head-2-head stats last ten meetings: 7 - 3 - 0 (Ballymena United wins - draws - Institute wins).Top Goalscorers
  C. Friel 13 goals |  A. McGrory 9 goals |  A. Lecky 8 goals |
Ballymena United missing players
Institute missing players
| Ballymena United | Institute | |||
| Total | Home | Statistic | Away | Total |
| 31 | 14 | Played | 15 | 31 |
| 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | 93% | 97% |
| 94% | 100% | Over 1.5 | 80% | 81% |
| 77% | 79% | Over 2.5 | 60% | 65% |
| 39% | 29% | Over 3.5 | 40% | 35% |
| 19% | 14% | Over 4.5 | 33% | 26% |
| 68% | 71% | Both teams to score | 60% | 52% |
| 23% | 21% | Clean Sheet | 33% | 29% |
| 10% | 7% | Failed To Score | 13% | 23% |
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | D | P |
| 1 | Linfield | 32 | 23 | 5 | 4 | 65 | 21 | 16 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 39 | 12 | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 26 | 9 | 44 | 74 |
| 2 | Ballymena United | 31 | 20 | 5 | 6 | 67 | 39 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 31 | 15 | 17 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 36 | 24 | 28 | 65 |
| 3 | Crusaders | 31 | 19 | 3 | 9 | 60 | 41 | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 33 | 20 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 27 | 21 | 19 | 60 |
| 4 | Glenavon | 32 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 59 | 40 | 17 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 32 | 20 | 15 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 27 | 20 | 19 | 57 |
| 5 | Cliftonville | 32 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 60 | 53 | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 35 | 20 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 25 | 33 | 7 | 51 |
| 6 | Coleraine | 32 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 51 | 45 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 22 | 21 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 29 | 24 | 6 | 51 |
| 7 | Glentoran | 32 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 48 | 47 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 27 | 23 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 21 | 24 | 1 | 38 |
| 8 | Dungannon Swifts | 32 | 9 | 9 | 14 | 37 | 51 | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 22 | 16 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 29 | -14 | 36 |
| 9 | Institute | 31 | 10 | 5 | 16 | 43 | 59 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 22 | 30 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 21 | 29 | -16 | 35 |
| 10 | Warrenpoint Town | 31 | 8 | 7 | 16 | 37 | 63 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 19 | 36 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 27 | -26 | 31 |
| 11 | Newry City | 28 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 20 | 50 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 20 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 30 | -30 | 17 |
| 11 | Ards | 32 | 4 | 6 | 22 | 25 | 56 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 15 | 24 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 10 | 32 | -31 | 18 |
| 12 | Newry City AFC | 32 | 4 | 5 | 23 | 23 | 60 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 25 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 11 | 35 | -37 | 17 |
