Thursday sees all 12 Irish Premiership sides take part in the annual St Stephen’s Day fixtures with some cracker ties across the province.
Glentoran will be aiming for their third win of the season against rivals Linfield, while both Crusaders and Cliftonville will be seeking much needed wins to turn their recent poor
Here’s a look at predictions, previews and betting odds for the festive fixtures.
ST STEPHEN’S DAY (KICK-OFF, 3pm)
Coleraine v Ballymena United
Ballymena will be hoping it is third time lucky as they head to the Showgrounds looking for a first win of the season over arch-rivals Coleraine. The Bannsiders have won both encounters so far this season.
Coleraine have not won in three matches and languish in eighth spot in the table. Worryingly, they have shipped eight goals in those three games, and this will give United heart.
Ballymena themselves were on a miserable run of form, with only a single victory in five games prior to Saturday’s 3-2 win away to Loughgall. But Jim Ervin’s men are creatures of habit with long runs of defeats or victories and are yet to draw this season. The stars may just be aligned for a Sky Blue win on the road.
Odds: Home: 3/4 Draw: 5/2 Away: 19/20
Prediction: Ballymena United
Crusaders v Cliftonville
These two sides are equally in need of three points and share an equally miserable record in their last five games. Both have only managed a solitary victory in their last five games with three defeats to boot.
Joe Gormley struck his 15th goal of the season in Saturday’s defeat to Glentoran, but too often he is the only outlet for strikes and that is causing a headache for manager Jim Magilton. They also are struggling to maintain leads in games and goalkeeper David Odumosu is in a poor run of form.
The Crues have no time to gloat over their neighbours misfortunes. Saturday’s sinking to Portadown was the third in a row and a goal difference of minus-five in those games tells a story of difficulties at both ends. The Reds might just have enough in this one.
Odds: Home: 7/4 Draw: 21/10 Away: 11/8
Prediction: Cliftonville
Dungannon Swifts v Loughgall
Fourth-placed Dungannon host basement-side Loughgall with an opportunity to rise as high as second place in the standings with a win.
Rodney McAree’s Swifts will be hoping for revenge after a shock 3-1 defeat at home to Loughgall back in October, while Villagers’ boss Dean Smith will be hoping to deliver the same medicine.
Smith will take heart from the performance on Saturday that saw Loughgall push Ballymena hard in a 3-2 defeat, but without a win in six this is likely to be a challenge too far against an inspiring Dungannon team.
Odds: Home: 4/9 Draw: 3/1 Away: 9/2
Prediction: Dungannon Swifts
Glenavon v Portadown
They may be neighbours on the map, but these two teams are poles apart in the standings with the Ports in second and Glenavon second-from-bottom.
Portadown just keep upsetting the odds with Saturday’s win over Crusaders a case in point.
Glenavon meanwhile went down to Linfield at Windsor Park 1-0 but Paddy McLaughlin has certainly made them a more difficult side to beat in his short time in charge and this is likely to be another tight affair.
The sides share the spoils with one win apiece so far this season. If the game were to be played at Shamrock Park you would heavily fancy a Ports win, but at Mourneview Park Glenavon may just have enough to rescue a point in front of a bumper crowd.
Odds: Home: 13/10 Draw: 21/10 Away: 15/8
Prediction: Draw
Glentoran v Linfield
The Blues must be sick of the sight of Glentoran. Three times they have met this season in all competitions and three times Declan Devine’s men have ended up on top.
Both sides are in a rich vein of form, with neither being defeated in their last four outings. The Glens 2-1 win away to Cliftonville on Saturday after being behind will give them confidence that they can beat anyone in the division.
David Healy’s men saw off Glenavon 1-0 at the weekend but most of the post-match questions related to the expected exit of star player Joel Cooper to Coleraine.
Linfield start the game as slight favourites, but Glentoran will have the mental edge from previous results and home advantage may just get them over the line.
Odds: Home: 19/10 Draw: 2/1 Away: 13/10
Prediction: Glentoran
Larne v Carrick Rangers
Reigning champions Larne will be hoping to continue their climb back up the Premiership as they encounter upon a mammoth backlog of league fixtures stemming from their European adventures.
Rangers will have to go some way to turn around some poor performances against their east Antrim neighbours. Stephen Baxter’s men have not one against Larne in 16 attempts dating all the way back to 2019 when both sides faced off in the Championship.
With only two goals scored in their last three outings, goals may be a concern for Rangers against a robust Larne defence, while at the other end Gary Haveron’s men are likely to have too much firepower for the visitors’ defence.
Odds: Home: 1/6 Draw: 15/2 Away: 9/1
Prediction: Larne