The home fans are expecting three points in this fixture, as the home advantage should be put to good use versus a struggling visitor. Crusaders are in the 5th position while the guests worry at 10th.
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 Crusaders and Dungannon Swifts.
Crusaders are done competing for places this season; they will remain in 5th place whatever happens now. For Dungannon Swifts it's their last days at this level as relegation is a fact.
Crusaders form and stats
6 victories, 2 draws and 3 defeats. That’s what Crusaders, who have the most scored goals (48) in Premiership, have to build on here at Seaview in the Premiership. Two defeats in a row at home hurts for Crusaders, their manager S. Baxter and the supporters. There are certain expectations for improvement.
The Crusaders fans got no joy from their last match, a Premiership game also here at Seaview: A 1-2 defeat against Cliftonville (placed 1st). Preceding that game was the away draw at Linfield that finished 1-1.
The manager S. Baxter will start preparations for the next game as soon this is finished, as the hosts are going to Warrenpoint Town in only four days.
Goals decide football matches and Crusaders are scoring many of them at home; 23 on target from 11 league matches. Crusaders have conceded 12 in these home matches.
Dungannon Swifts form and stats
There's been little loot from Dungannon Swifts's travels as they have only collected 4 points from 10 away games in the Premiership. Dungannon Swifts only have 1 win to counter their 8 defeats and 1 draw. A depressing six defeats in a row for Dungannon Swifts in their away games. Unhappy days, as the last time they avoided a loss on the road was versus Larne.
Dungannon Swifts play their second straight away game, having lost the previous one 0-5 to Glenavon (placed 8th). Ahead of that game was the 2-2 draw at home against Institute.
Dungannon Swifts lost the plot completely in their previous game, as mentioned above. They need to recover quickly from that 0-5 beating and focus on this one.
As mentioned above, the bookmakers do not believe the away team will get anything from this match. Checking Dungannon Swifts's match history for similar games we find two matches. The home team won 1 of these as expected, 0 of them by at least two goals. Dungannon Swifts managed 1 draw and 0 surprise wins.
A new game in only four days for Dungannon Swifts, the Premiership home match versus Glentoran. Busy days.
The attacking power of Dungannon Swifts when travelling is not overwhelming with 9 goals scored from 10 league matches away. There are big problems for the Dungannon Swifts defense as they have conceded 34 goals in 10 away games.
Head 2 Head
This is the result when the teams met earlier this season; Dungannon Swifts - Crusaders 1-6. Numbers for the last ten meetings between these two teams are: 6 wins for Crusaders, 1 draw and 3 wins for Dungannon Swifts. Over 2,5 goals: 7 times; under 2,5 goals: 3 games.Top Goalscorers
  P. Heatley 8 goals |  J. McGonigle 8 goals |  P. Lowry 6 goals |
Crusaders missing players
Dungannon Swifts missing players
| Crusaders | Dungannon Swifts | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 22 | 11 | 3 | Played | P | 3 | 10 | 21 |
| 11 | 6 | 2 | Won | W | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 7 | 2 | 1 | Drew | D | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | 3 | 0 | Lost | L | 2 | 8 | 13 |
| 48 | 23 | 8 | Scored | S | 2 | 9 | 25 |
| 23 | 12 | 1 | Conceded | C | 8 | 34 | 59 |
| 95% | 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 67% | 90% | 95% |
| 82% | 82% | 100% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 67% | 80% | 86% |
| 55% | 64% | 67% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 67% | 80% | 81% |
| 41% | 36% | 33% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 67% | 70% | 67% |
| 23% | 18% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 67% | 70% | 43% |
| 55% | 45% | 33% | BTTS | BTTS | 33% | 40% | 57% |
| 36% | 36% | 67% | Clean Sheets | C S | 33% | 10% | 5% |
| 14% | 18% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 67% | 60% | 43% |
| 4.8 | 4.6 | 5 | Corners For (avg) | C F | 2 | 2.6 | 2.2 |
| 3.5 | 3.9 | 1 | Corners Against (avg) | C A | 4 | 5.6 | 4.1 |
| 2.1 | 2.3 | 1.5 | Yellow Cards (avg) | Y C | 1.5 | 2.1 | 1.9 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Red Cards | R C | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 247 | 140 | 34 | Total Shots | T S | 6 | 63 | 86 |
| 105 | 59 | 19 | Shots on Target | S O | 2 | 31 | 43 |
| 34% | 32% | 21% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 0% | 23% | 28% |
- Crusaders has the most dropped points from leading position (16)
- Crusaders has the most scored goals (48)
- Crusaders has the most scored goals in the second half (31)
- Crusaders have created more than twice as many corners as Dungannon Swifts.
- 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 have scored at least twice as many goals at home as Dungannon Swifts have scored away.
- Crusaders haven’t played a single 0-0 game at home.
- Dungannon Swifts has the fewest matches under the total-line (4)
- Dungannon Swifts has the most conceded goals in the second half (41)
- Dungannon Swifts has the most matches over the total-line (16)
- Dungannon Swifts have conceded at least twice as many corners as they have won away.
- Dungannon Swifts have conceded at least twice as many goals as they have scored.
| 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 | 21 | 14 | 2 | 5 | 37 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 6 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 8 | 23 | 44 |
| 2 | Linfield | 20 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 42 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 8 | 27 | 43 |
| 3 | Coleraine | 22 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 47 | 21 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 25 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 14 | 26 | 43 |
| 4 | Glentoran | 21 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 45 | 25 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 9 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 16 | 20 | 41 |
| 5 | Crusaders | 22 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 48 | 23 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 25 | 11 | 25 | 40 |
| 6 | Larne | 21 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 38 | 20 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 9 | 18 | 32 |
| 7 | Ballymena United | 22 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 30 | 34 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 16 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 18 | -4 | 26 |
| 8 | Glenavon | 21 | 8 | 2 | 11 | 34 | 49 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 20 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 14 | 35 | -15 | 26 |
| 9 | Carrick Rangers | 21 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 25 | 32 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 15 | -7 | 22 |
| 10 | Dungannon Swifts | 21 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 25 | 59 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 25 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 34 | -34 | 18 |
| 11 | Institute | 22 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 48 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 28 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 20 | -30 | 13 |
| 12 | Warrenpoint Town | 22 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 15 | 64 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 28 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 36 | -49 | 12 |