The home fans are expecting three points in this fixture, as the home advantage should be put to good use versus a struggling visitor. Ballymena United are in the 7th position while the guests worry at 11th.
Both teams should be fairly well rested for this game, as they have had some quiet days to prepare. Hopefully this will translate into lots of action on the pitch.
Ballymena United form and stats
2 victories, 2 draws and 3 defeats. That’s what Ballymena United have to build on here at Ballymena Showgrounds in the Premiership. Regardless of arena the trend is looking very unhealthy for Ballymena United with their five defeats in a row. Not since the Crusaders game, 42 days ago, have they avoided a loss. Two defeats in a row at home hurts for Ballymena United, their manager D. Jeffrey and the supporters. There are certain expectations for improvement.
Ballymena United lost their last game at Cliftonville (placed 1st) after a 0-1 scoreline. Preceding that match was a defeat to Carrick Rangers (1-2).
The Ballymena United fans would probably like to see some more goals scored at their own stadium in the league, the tally being 10 in 7 matches. On the other hand, Ballymena United have conceded 10 goals.
Institute form and stats
Institute have only collected 6 points from their away games in the Premiership, after 1-3-3 (7 played). Two points from the last two away games for Institute, which the math geniuses among you will translate to two draws.
The manager S. Connor was unhappy after their last game, a Premiership match played at their home ground Ballymena Showgrounds. Institute suffered a 0-3 loss to Linfield (placed 4th). A 1-1 draw was the result before that, hosting Glentoran.
Many goals are not expected from the visiting Institute as they have only managed to score 6 times from 7 away games in the league. Institute have conceded 11 goals in these games.
Head 2 Head
The two sides played each other earlier this season: Institute - Ballymena United 1-1. Last ten meetings between the teams: Ballymena United won 7, Institute won 0 and 3 draws. 8 games with over 2,5 goals, 2 matches with two goals or less.Top Goalscorers
  C. Friel 6 goals |   J. McCready 6 goals |  A. McGrory 4 goals |
Ballymena United missing players
Institute missing players
| Ballymena United | Institute | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 15 | 7 | 1 | Played | P | 2 | 7 | 15 |
| 4 | 2 | 1 | Won | W | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | 2 | 0 | Drew | D | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 7 | 3 | 0 | Lost | L | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| 21 | 10 | 4 | Scored | S | 1 | 6 | 11 |
| 24 | 10 | 0 | Conceded | C | 5 | 11 | 34 |
| 100% | 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 86% | 93% |
| 87% | 100% | 100% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 100% | 71% | 87% |
| 67% | 71% | 100% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 50% | 43% | 53% |
| 33% | 14% | 100% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 50% | 43% | 40% |
| 7% | 0% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 0% | 20% |
| 73% | 71% | 0% | BTTS | BTTS | 50% | 57% | 53% |
| 13% | 14% | 100% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 14% | 7% |
| 13% | 14% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 50% | 43% | 47% |
| 2.6 | 1.4 | 2 | Corners For (avg) | C F | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 |
| 4.6 | 4.6 | 7 | Corners Against (avg) | C A | 6 | 4.3 | 5.1 |
| 1.9 | 1.4 | 1 | Yellow Cards (avg) | Y C | 3 | 2 | 2.2 |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | Red Cards | R C | 0 | 0 | 3 |
- All of Ballymena United's home-matches have had more than 1,5 goals.
- Ballymena United have conceded at least twice as many corners as they have won at home.
- Ballymena United have played more matches over 2,5 goals home than away.
- Ballymena United have won significantly less corners at home than away.
- Ballymena United haven’t played a single 0-0 game.
- Institute have conceded at least twice as many corners as they have won.
- Institute have conceded at least twice as many goals as they have scored.
- Institute have won significantly less corners away then at home.
| 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 | 16 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 33 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 5 | 24 | 37 |
| 2 | Coleraine | 16 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 38 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 9 | 26 | 35 |
| 3 | Crusaders | 16 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 38 | 17 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 8 | 21 | 32 |
| 4 | Linfield | 13 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 35 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 26 | 30 |
| 5 | Glentoran | 15 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 30 | 21 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 9 | 27 |
| 6 | Larne | 15 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 30 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 7 | 15 | 23 |
| 7 | Ballymena United | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 21 | 24 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 14 | -3 | 16 |
| 8 | Carrick Rangers | 15 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 14 | 25 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 11 | -11 | 15 |
| 9 | Dungannon Swifts | 15 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 16 | 36 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 20 | -20 | 14 |
| 10 | Glenavon | 13 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 16 | 36 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 26 | -20 | 11 |
| 11 | Institute | 15 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 34 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 23 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 11 | -23 | 8 |
| 12 | Warrenpoint Town | 16 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 11 | 55 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 22 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 33 | -44 | 6 |