2nd position in the Premiership table for Crusaders so far, a good performance. The home supporters hope for more joy as 8th-placed Ballymena United visits Seaview.
Both teams have had enough rest since their last competitive action. Let's hope for an energetic game!
Crusaders form and stats
Crusaders, who have the most scored goals (61) in Premiership, have performed here at Seaview this season with 8 wins from 13 Premiership matches. Some points have been lost, as they have drawn 2 games and lost 3. The team is able to perform also as the away side, as they are nurturing a very healthy winning streak of four straight victories regardless of arena. The opportunity of a proper winning streak is there for the hosts, with two straight wins here at Seaview.
Defensively the home team are doing well, with their goalkeeper Gerard Doherty not having conceded a league goal in 371 minutes.
The Crusaders supporters enjoyed the previous match, watching their team host Larne in Premiership and win 3-0. In the game before, an away victory match versus Coleraine with a 1-0 scoreline.
Crusaders decided the match against Larne in the first half, and held firmly on to their lead (3-0) without using too much effort. The team showed great control while saving some energy.
The Crusaders manager S. Baxter has got the team scoring with 31 from 13 home games in the league. From these home matches, Crusaders have conceded only 12 goals.
Ballymena United form and stats
The story so far for the visiting team on their Premiership travels is 4 wins, 2 draws and 7 defeats.
Ballymena United failed to get anything from their last game, a Premiership home match vs Glenavon (placed 7th) that ended with defeat 0-3. Ahead of that match was the victory versus Dungannon Swifts at their stadium, the result 10-2.
Ballymena United are not goal shy away from home in the league, finding the net 23 times in 13 away games so far. Defensive performances away have varied in quality as Ballymena United have conceded 22 goals on the road. For more goal statistics, check out the Statistics tab above.
Head 2 Head
These teams' last encounter with each other was the Crusaders - Ballymena United 0-1 earlier this season. Head-to-head totals (for the last ten meetings): Crusaders won 5 games, 2 matches ended with a draw and Ballymena United has 3 wins. Over 2,5 goals / under 2,5 goals: 7 / 3Top Goalscorers
  J. McGonigle 12 goals |  J. Owens 11 goals |  P. Heatley 8 goals |
Crusaders missing players
Ballymena United missing players
| Crusaders | Ballymena United | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 26 | 13 | 4 | Played | P | 4 | 13 | 26 |
| 15 | 8 | 2 | Won | W | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| 7 | 2 | 1 | Drew | D | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 4 | 3 | 1 | Lost | L | 4 | 7 | 13 |
| 61 | 31 | 9 | Scored | S | 2 | 23 | 42 |
| 23 | 12 | 6 | Conceded | C | 9 | 22 | 44 |
| 96% | 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| 81% | 85% | 100% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 100% | 77% | 88% |
| 58% | 69% | 100% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 50% | 54% | 65% |
| 42% | 38% | 50% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 25% | 38% | 31% |
| 23% | 23% | 25% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 15% | 15% |
| 46% | 38% | 75% | BTTS | BTTS | 50% | 62% | 69% |
| 46% | 46% | 25% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 15% | 12% |
| 12% | 15% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 50% | 23% | 19% |
| 4.6 | 4.4 | 5.8 | Corners For (avg) | C F | 4 | 4 | 2.9 |
| 3.7 | 3.6 | 4 | Corners Against (avg) | C A | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.4 |
| 1.9 | 2 | 2.5 | Yellow Cards (avg) | Y C | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.6 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Red Cards | R C | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 307 | 169 | 56 | Total Shots | T S | 20 | 95 | 168 |
| 136 | 74 | 22 | Shots on Target | S O | 5 | 36 | 68 |
| 36% | 36% | 41% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 40% | 36% | 41% |
- Ballymena United have won significantly more corners away than at home.
- Ballymena United haven’t played a single 0-0 game.
- Crusaders has the most dropped points from leading position (16)
- Crusaders has the most scored goals (31) at home
- Crusaders has the most scored goals (61)
- Crusaders has the most scored goals in the second half (35)
- Crusaders has the the best goal difference (+38)
- Crusaders have played more matches over 2,5 goals home than away.
- Crusaders have scored at least twice as many goals as they have conceded.
- Crusaders haven’t played a single 0-0 game 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 | Glentoran | 25 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 53 | 26 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 23 | 16 | 27 | 53 |
| 2 | Crusaders | 26 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 61 | 23 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 31 | 12 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 30 | 11 | 38 | 52 |
| 3 | Linfield | 24 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 48 | 17 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 7 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 18 | 10 | 31 | 51 |
| 4 | Coleraine | 26 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 54 | 23 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 26 | 9 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 28 | 14 | 31 | 50 |
| 5 | Cliftonville | 25 | 16 | 2 | 7 | 41 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 18 | 8 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 10 | 23 | 50 |
| 6 | Larne | 25 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 46 | 27 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 25 | 13 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 21 | 14 | 19 | 38 |
| 7 | Glenavon | 25 | 9 | 4 | 12 | 40 | 53 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 23 | 17 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 17 | 36 | -13 | 31 |
| 8 | Ballymena United | 26 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 42 | 44 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 19 | 22 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 23 | 22 | -2 | 29 |
| 9 | Carrick Rangers | 25 | 9 | 1 | 15 | 29 | 38 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 15 | 19 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 14 | 19 | -9 | 28 |
| 10 | Dungannon Swifts | 25 | 5 | 4 | 16 | 27 | 76 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 18 | 37 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 39 | -49 | 19 |
| 11 | Institute | 26 | 2 | 8 | 16 | 20 | 58 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 33 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 25 | -38 | 14 |
| 12 | Warrenpoint Town | 26 | 4 | 1 | 21 | 17 | 75 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 12 | 36 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 39 | -58 | 13 |