The managers S. Baxter and P. McLaughlin are both dreading and looking forward to this decisive game in the upper regions of the Premiership league table.
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.
This pitch has grass, which is not Cliftonville's usual surface at their own ground. When playing on grass Cliftonville have performed like this: Played 40 matches resulting in 15 wins, 6 draws and 19 defeats with the goal stats 58-66 (scored/conceded).
This is a local derby, usually meaning added tension and importance.
Crusaders form and stats
The home supporters can't complain about results here at Seaview as Crusaders, who have the most scored goals (47) in Premiership, have scored 22 goals to get 20 points from 10 games. The overall stats in the Premiership are 6-2-2 (wins-draws-losses).
Happy days for Crusaders in their previous game, a Premiership match away at Linfield (placed 1st) that ended with a 1-0 victory. 1-1 away at Glentoran before that.
Another home game is coming up fairly shortly for the hosts, as Dungannon Swifts are coming to town in two days.
With an average of more than two goals per home game in the league (22 in 10 games), Crusaders's attacking play is working. Crusaders have conceded 10 in these home matches.
Cliftonville form and stats
Cliftonville have an excellent away record in the Premiership so far with 6-2-2 from 10 games.
The supporters enjoyed Cliftonville's previous game versus Coleraine (placed 4th), a Premiership 1-0 win played at home. It was a defeat before that one as the away game against Linfield wasn't a success with a 0-1 loss.
The visitors will be packing their bags again in only two days as another away game awaits: The Premiership trip to Larne.
The travelling fans enjoy Cliftonville's attacking play in away games, having scored 19 goals in 10 league matches away. Cliftonville are defending well in their away games, having conceded only 7 times in 10 matches. For more goal statistics, check out the Statistics tab above.
Head 2 Head
The most recent history between these sides is the Cliftonville - Crusaders 0-2 played earlier this season. H2H stats regardless of arena (last ten matches): Crusaders 7 wins, 1 draw and Cliftonville 2 victories. As for goals, 5 matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), 5 games had two or less.Top Goalscorers
 
J. Gormley
14 goals
|
 
P. Heatley
8 goals
|
J. McGonigle
8 goals
|
Crusaders missing players
Cliftonville missing players
| Crusaders | Cliftonville | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs
|
Statistics | Stat | vs
|
Away | Total |
| 21 | 10 | 2 | Played | P | 2 | 10 | 20 |
| 12 | 6 | 1 | Won | W | 0 | 6 | 13 |
| 6 | 2 | 0 | Drew | D | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | Lost | L | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 47 | 22 | 1 | Scored | S | 1 | 19 | 35 |
| 20 | 10 | 2 | Conceded | C | 2 | 7 | 13 |
| 95% | 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| 76% | 80% | 50% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 50% | 70% | 60% |
| 52% | 60% | 0% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 0% | 50% | 40% |
| 43% | 40% | 0% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 0% | 20% | 25% |
| 24% | 20% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 10% | 10% |
| 48% | 40% | 0% | BTTS | BTTS | 50% | 50% | 30% |
| 43% | 40% | 50% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 40% | 50% |
| 14% | 20% | 50% | Failed to Score | F T | 50% | 10% | 20% |
| 4.5 | 4 | 0.5 | Corners For (avg) | C F | 4.5 | 5.1 | 5.4 |
| 3.3 | 3.7 | 4 | Corners Against (avg) | C A | 5 | 4 | 3.1 |
| 1.9 | 2.1 | 3 | Yellow Cards (avg) | Y C | 3 | 1.8 | 1.4 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Red Cards | R C | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 230 | 123 | 11 | Total Shots | T S | 13 | 98 | 173 |
| 101 | 55 | 4 | Shots on Target | S O | 4 | 50 | 91 |
| 35% | 33% | 25% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 25% | 38% | 38% |
- Cliftonville has the fewest conceded goals in the first half (3)
- Cliftonville has the most matches under the total-line (13)
- Cliftonville have played more matches over 2,5 goals away than home.
- Cliftonville have scored at least twice as many goals as they have conceded.
- Cliftonville haven’t played a single 0-0 game.
- Crusaders has the most scored goals (47)
- Crusaders has the most scored goals in the second half (31)
- 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.
- Crusaders is in the best form (4-1-1)
| 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 | 19 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 42 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 5 | 30 | 43 |
| 2 | Cliftonville | 20 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 35 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 7 | 22 | 41 |
| 3 | Crusaders | 21 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 47 | 21 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 25 | 11 | 26 | 40 |
| 4 | Coleraine | 21 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 45 | 21 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 23 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 14 | 24 | 40 |
| 5 | Glentoran | 20 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 42 | 25 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 23 | 9 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 38 |
| 6 | Larne | 20 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 38 | 20 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 9 | 18 | 31 |
| 7 | Ballymena United | 21 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 30 | 32 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 16 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 16 | -2 | 26 |
| 8 | Glenavon | 20 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 29 | 49 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 14 | 35 | -20 | 23 |
| 9 | Carrick Rangers | 20 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 25 | 32 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 17 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 15 | -7 | 21 |
| 10 | Dungannon Swifts | 20 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 25 | 54 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 25 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 29 | -29 | 18 |
| 11 | Institute | 21 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 18 | 47 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 27 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 20 | -29 | 13 |
| 12 | Warrenpoint Town | 21 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 14 | 64 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 28 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 36 | -50 | 9 |