Danske Bank Premiership: Ballinamallard United v Cliftonville (tonight, 8pm)
CLIFTONVILLE will be out to inflict further misery on basement-dwellers Ballinamallard United when they travel to Ferney Park tonight.
The Fermanagh side are without a Danske Bank Premiership win since October, a 2-0 victory over fellow strugglers Carrick Rangers, and go into this game on the back of a defeat to Warrenpoint Town at the weekend.
Currently four points off second-from-bottom Carrick, having played two more games, the table makes grim reading for Gavin Dykes’s men.
However, the fact that one of their meagre seven points accrued so far this season came at home to Cliftonville back in August must provide some cause for optimism.
And the Reds are not exactly in flying form, especially away from home. Indeed, Barry Gray’s side haven’t won a game outside of Solitude since getting the better of his former club Warrenpoint on December 2.
Since then they have struggled, and consecutive Christmas period defeats to rivals Linfield and Crusaders brought the curtain down on any lingering hopes of a push for the top spot.
They ended a four game winless run with a comprehensive 3-0 victory against Dungannon Swifts at the weekend, and Gray will be hoping to take that momentum into tonight’s game.
He has had a busy week in the transfer market, bringing in experienced Dundalk defender Shane Grimes to bolster the Reds back line.
Grimes was the club’s second signing of the window, following the earlier capture of midfielder Conor McDonald, and could make his debut tonight.
There was one key outgoing during the past seven days too, with forward Danny Hughes swapping Solitude for Stangmore Park after joining Dungannon.
Elsewhere tonight, third-placed Glenavon will hope to follow up Saturday’s away defeat of Linfield by picking up another three points on the road, this time at struggling Warrenpoint.
The Lurgan Blues edged to a 1-0 win when the sides met on St Stephen’s Day and Gary Hamilton’s men will be fancied for another victory.
Talented midfielder Joel Cooper - who has signed a pre-contract agreement to join Linfield this summer after weeks of speculation - was not involved in the weekend win at Windsor, and it remains to be seen if he will feature tonight.
