Soccer

Danske Bank Premiership: Previews of all Saturday's games

Manager Colin Nixon will be hoping against hope that his Ards side can take something out of today's game against Linfield
Manager Colin Nixon will be hoping against hope that his Ards side can take something out of today's game against Linfield Manager Colin Nixon will be hoping against hope that his Ards side can take something out of today's game against Linfield

Danske Bank Premiership

(All games today, 3pm)

Ards v Linfield

WHEN Ards held Linfield to a scoreless draw at Windsor Park back on the first day of September, things were looking up for the men from north Down.

The week before, they had thumped Warrenpoint and followed the Windsor Park result up with another two stalemates against tricky opponents in the form of Coleraine and Ballymena.

Then, things went pear shaped. They’ve lost all of their last five in the league and find themselves in the relegation zone. Linfield, for their part, are sitting pretty on top of the table.

Things could get messy for Colin Nixon’s men this afternoon.

Odds: H: 9/1; D: 9/2; A: 2/9

Prediction: Linfield

Ballymena United v Dungannon Swifts

DUNGANNON are in trouble. After 10 games played, they sit bottom of the Danske Bank Premiership table.

The only positive to come out of their recent run of form is that those directly above them – Ards and Newry City – are on worse runs, just. As it is, they are separated from Ards by goal difference and are two points clear of safety, which is far from an unsalvageable state of affairs in October time.

Ballymena have won their last two and may be in no mood to do the Swifts any favours today, however.

Odds: H: 4/7; D: 11/4; A: 4/1

Prediction: Ballymena

Cliftonville v Warrenpoint Town

CLIFTONVILLE could really do with a win today if they are to take ambitions of European football next season into the new year.

Warrenpoint, following a woeful start to the season, are unbeaten in five and should be confident enough to begin looking up the table as opposed to over their shoulder at the relegation zone.

Odds: H: 4/11; D: 10/3; 6/1

Prediction: Draw

Coleraine v Crusaders

JUST as Crusaders look to be pulling themselves together, the wheels appear to be coming off at Coleraine.

The last time these sides met, Coleraine wiped the floor with the defending champions. Then, Oran Kearney left for St Mirren and Rodney McAree stepped into his shoes at the Showgrounds.

Coleraine haven’t won a league game since that managerial turnaround, while Stephen Baxter’s men have now managed three wins in-a-row to leapfrog the Bannsiders in the table.

Odds: H: 9/5; D: 12/5; A: 6/5

Prediction: Crusaders

Glentoran v Glenavon

SINCE these sides played out a 1-1 draw at the beginning of September, Glenavon have been in impeccable form, winning five league games out of five.

Gary Hamilton’s side sit second in the Danske Bank Premiership table, two points behind Linfield, but with a game in hand over the Blues.

Ronnie McFall’s Glentoran have lost their last two in the league and they could be in for another testing afternoon at the Oval.

Odds: H: 9/5; D: 12/5; A: 6/5

Prediction: Glenavon