Struggling Ballymena United will be hoping to pull off an upset when they welcome high-flying Linfield in the upcoming league round. It’s 9th vs 1st and the home crowd will have moderate expectations.
There should be plenty of energy on the pitch in this game, as both sides have had time to recuperate from their last game. Let's hope both teams are ready to give it all.
Ballymena United form and stats
Ballymena United have played 14 Premiership games at their own stadium so far this season, resulting in 4-3-7 (wins-draws-losses). Ballymena United has three losses from their three previous games and the tension is increasing in the dressing room for both the manager D. Jeffrey and the players. Three consecutive losses here at The Showgrounds is hard to swallow for the home team. Both players, staff and the home crowd are desperate to get something from this match.
Ballymena United's previous game was also a home match, the defeat 0-2 versus Carrick Rangers (placed 8th). A defeat was the result before that one, 0-2 away at Crusaders.
The Ballymena United fans would probably like to see some more goals scored at their own stadium in the league, the tally being 19 in 14 matches. Defensively it’s touch-and-go for the home team as 24 goals have been conceded.
Linfield form and stats
As the visiting team in Premiership matches, Linfield have produced an overall stat of 8-1-5 so far.
It's the second away game in a row for Linfield, but there's smiles all around after the 2-1 victory versus Warrenpoint Town (placed 11th) in the Premiership last time out. That result followed a home victory 2-1 versus Dungannon Swifts.
Linfield has displayed an ability to score goals in away matches in the league this season, 21 goals from 14 games. As opposed to that, Linfield have seen the ball go into their own net 14 times on the road.
Head 2 Head
Ballymena United - Linfield 1-2 was the story when these teams last met, earlier this season. Numbers for the last ten meetings between these two teams are: two wins for Ballymena United, one draw and seven wins for Linfield. Over 2,5 goals: six times; under 2,5 goals: four games.Top Goalscorers
  J. Cooper 11 goals |  A. Waterworth 11 goals |  S. Lavery 10 goals |
Ballymena United missing players
Linfield missing players
| Ballymena United | Linfield | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 28 | 14 | 3 | Played | P | 4 | 14 | 28 |
| 8 | 4 | 0 | Won | W | 4 | 8 | 19 |
| 5 | 3 | 2 | Drew | D | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 15 | 7 | 1 | Lost | L | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| 42 | 19 | 3 | Scored | S | 11 | 21 | 61 |
| 48 | 24 | 4 | Conceded | C | 2 | 14 | 23 |
| 100% | 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | 96% |
| 89% | 100% | 100% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 100% | 71% | 71% |
| 61% | 71% | 33% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 75% | 57% | 57% |
| 29% | 21% | 0% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 25% | 14% | 25% |
| 14% | 14% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 25% | 7% | 18% |
| 64% | 71% | 100% | BTTS | BTTS | 50% | 43% | 43% |
| 11% | 7% | 0% | Clean Sheets | C S | 50% | 29% | 43% |
| 25% | 21% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 0% | 29% | 18% |
| 3 | 2.1 | 0.3 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 6.5 | 6.2 | 7.4 |
| 4.5 | 4.6 | 1.7 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 1.8 | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.3 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 0.8 | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 179 | 78 | 18 | Total Shots | T S | 33 | 84 | 258 |
| 71 | 34 | 6 | Shots on Target | S O | 17 | 35 | 110 |
| 39% | 44% | 50% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 65% | 51% | 46% |
- 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.
- Ballymena United is in the worst form (0-0-6)
- Linfield has the most scored goals in the first half (34)
- Linfield have created more than twice as many corners as Ballymena United.
- Linfield have scored at least twice as many goals as they have conceded.
- Linfield have won at least twice as many corners as they have conceded.
- Linfield 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 | 61 | 23 | 14 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 40 | 9 | 14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 21 | 14 | 38 | 60 |
| 2 | Coleraine | 28 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 56 | 23 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 27 | 9 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 29 | 14 | 33 | 56 |
| 3 | Glentoran | 28 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 58 | 29 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 34 | 11 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 24 | 18 | 29 | 56 |
| 4 | Crusaders | 28 | 16 | 7 | 5 | 64 | 25 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 33 | 12 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 31 | 13 | 39 | 55 |
| 5 | Cliftonville | 28 | 17 | 3 | 8 | 45 | 21 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 11 | 24 | 54 |
| 6 | Larne | 28 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 55 | 29 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 30 | 15 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 25 | 14 | 26 | 47 |
| 7 | Glenavon | 28 | 10 | 4 | 14 | 43 | 66 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 25 | 18 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 18 | 48 | -23 | 34 |
| 8 | Carrick Rangers | 28 | 10 | 1 | 17 | 33 | 43 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 16 | 21 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 17 | 22 | -10 | 31 |
| 9 | Ballymena United | 28 | 8 | 5 | 15 | 42 | 48 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 19 | 24 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 23 | 24 | -6 | 29 |
| 10 | Dungannon Swifts | 28 | 6 | 5 | 17 | 31 | 79 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 20 | 37 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 42 | -48 | 23 |
| 11 | Warrenpoint Town | 28 | 5 | 1 | 22 | 20 | 78 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 13 | 38 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 40 | -58 | 16 |
| 12 | Institute | 28 | 2 | 8 | 18 | 20 | 64 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 37 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 27 | -44 | 14 |