Linfield have been better than Ballymena United this season, but every fixture begins at 0-0. Here's all the facts and figures you require ahead of kickoff:
- Linfield have the fewest conceded goals (11) in Premiership
- Ballymena United have played more matches over 2,5 goals away than home.
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.
Linfield form and stats
22 points is a decent return from 10 Premiership games here at Windsor Park for Linfield. The data says 6 wins, 4 draws and 0 losses. The Linfield fans aren't used to losing league-games here at Windsor Park and will expect new points from this game. Linfield has played ten games in a row here without a defeat.
A strong away win for Linfield against Dungannon Swifts the last match, as Newberry, Stewart, Millar, Hume, Shields and Salam were on target. As indicated by the result mentioned above, Linfield played a great game against Dungannon Swifts and beat them comfortably. Expectations are high for this one.
Preceding that game was the home draw versus Glentoran that ended 1-1.Linfield are believed to win this game, given a winning chance of about 70% by the bookmakers. We have checked our records for their performance in similar circumstances and found seven matches and the win/draw/lost stats: Won seven, drew zero and lost zero.
The Linfield fans have had their share of opportunities to cheer home goals this season, having seen 17 goals in 10 league matches. Defensively Linfield have been outstanding, conceding less than half a goal on average per home game in the league (4 in 10 games). For more goal stats, check the Statistics tab above. It's worth mentioning that 2 of these goals has been conceded in their last three home matches.
Ballymena United form and stats
The story so far for the visiting team on their Premiership travels is 4 wins, 0 draws and 7 defeats.
Impressive finishing from Winchester, Redman and Parkhouse (2) secured the home win 4-0 against Portadown in their previous game. As mentioned above, Ballymena United was the only team on the pitch versus Portadown in their previous game, winning 4-0. This could be a tougher task.
Prior to that match, a home win 2-1 against Coleraine.You'll want to know how Ballymena United managed when outsiders such as today. Our database found ten similar matches resulting in five away wins, zero draws and five home wins.
The attacking power of Ballymena when travelling is not overwhelming with 9 goals scored from 11 league matches away. In the opposite end, Ballymena United have conceded 18 goals in their away games. There's been improvement defensively lately, as only 2 of these goals has been conceded in their last three away matches.
Head 2 Head
The newest registered match involving both these squads is the Linfield - Ballymena United 1-0 played not long ago this season. Head to head data (for the last ten meetings): Linfield won eight games, zero matches ended in a draw and Ballymena United have two wins. Over 2,5 goals / under 2,5 goals: seven / threeTop Goalscorers
  C. Manzinga 14 goals |   P. McElroy 6 goals | C. Shields 4 goals |
Linfield missing players
Ballymena United missing players
| Linfield | Ballymena United | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 21 | 10 | 2 | Played | P | 3 | 11 | 21 |
| 13 | 6 | 1 | Won | W | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| 7 | 4 | 1 | Drew | D | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Lost | L | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| 40 | 17 | 3 | Scored | S | 1 | 9 | 25 |
| 11 | 4 | 1 | Conceded | C | 9 | 18 | 29 |
| 90% | 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| 76% | 80% | 100% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 67% | 64% | 67% |
| 43% | 20% | 0% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 67% | 55% | 52% |
| 14% | 10% | 0% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 67% | 18% | 19% |
| 10% | 0% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 33% | 9% | 10% |
| 43% | 40% | 50% | BTTS | BTTS | 33% | 36% | 38% |
| 57% | 60% | 50% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 27% | 29% |
| 10% | 0% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 67% | 36% | 33% |
| 6.9 | 7.1 | 6.5 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 |
| 4 | 4.3 | 3.5 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 7.7 | 7.5 | 6.3 |
| 1.6 | 1.7 | 1 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 8 | 9.2 | 7 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 3.3 | 6 | 7.1 |
| 4 | 4.8 | 4 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 1 | 2.2 | 3.1 |
| 48% | 35% | 38% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 33% | 38% | 38% |
| 7 | 6.2 | 7 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 12.7 | 9.3 | 9.5 |
| 2.4 | 2.2 | 2 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 5.3 | 4.1 | 4.5 |
- Ballymena United have played more matches over 2,5 goals away than home.
- Ballymena United haven’t played a single 0-0 game.
- Linfield have not yet lost a game at home.
- Linfield have scored at least twice as many goals as they have conceded.
- Linfield have scored in all their home matches so far.
- Linfield have the fewest conceded goals (11) in Premiership
- Linfield have the fewest conceded goals (4) at home in Premiership
- Linfield have the fewest conceded goals in the second half (4) in Premiership
- Linfield have the most clean sheets (12) in Premiership
- Linfield have the most scored goals in the first half (23) in Premiership
- Linfield have the the best goal difference (+29) in Premiership
- Linfield haven’t played a single 0-0 game at home.
- Linfield is in the best form (4-2-0) in Premiership
| 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 | 21 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 40 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 4 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 23 | 7 | 29 | 46 |
| 2 | Cliftonville | 21 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 33 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 9 | 18 | 44 |
| 3 | Glentoran | 21 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 42 | 22 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 16 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 6 | 20 | 43 |
| 4 | Larne | 21 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 39 | 25 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 22 | 17 | 14 | 38 |
| 5 | Crusaders | 20 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 28 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 8 | 15 | 36 |
| 6 | Ballymena United | 21 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 25 | 29 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 18 | -4 | 31 |
| 7 | Coleraine | 20 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 30 | 17 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 5 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 30 |
| 8 | Glenavon | 20 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 24 | 25 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 10 | -1 | 25 |
| 9 | Carrick Rangers | 21 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 15 | 32 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 14 | -17 | 19 |
| 10 | Dungannon Swifts | 21 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 27 | 57 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 31 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 26 | -30 | 16 |
| 11 | Portadown | 21 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 46 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 18 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 28 | -26 | 12 |
| 12 | Warrenpoint Town | 20 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 17 | 48 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 11 | 32 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 16 | -31 | 8 |
