Portadown face Cliftonville again this Tuesday in the League Cup Round of 32, a quick rematch after a dramatic 2-1 league win at Solitude on Saturday 17 October. The weekend victory, secured by Jack Scott's injury-time goal, gives David Jeffrey's side momentum heading into the cup tie at Shamrock Park.
Portadown currently sit 11th in the Premiership with eight points from twelve games, having recorded two wins and two draws against eight losses. Their recent form reads two wins, a draw, and two losses, a sequence that includes that vital win over Cliftonville and a draw with high-flying Glentoran. This run of results, which also includes defeats to Ballymena United and Bangor, leaves the side twenty-three points behind league leaders Coleraine FC. The team has scored ten goals this season but conceded twenty-one, leaving them with a negative goal difference of eleven. The club's next Premiership fixture is a significant test at home against second-placed Linfield on Friday, 23 October.
Manager's view
David Jeffrey was pleased with the character shown in the weekend's late victory. "I’m delighted. It was a tough, tough night, we knew it was going to be," the Portadown manager said. He has spoken about the team building slowly after a summer of significant squad changes, bringing in eight or nine new players. Jeffrey emphasised the importance of the whole 18-player squad gelling together, not only the starting eleven.
Ben Kennedy opened the scoring in the 30th minute on Saturday for his third league goal of the campaign. Brian Healy equalised for Cliftonville early in the second half before Scott's decisive intervention in the third minute of added time. The win moved Portadown two points clear of Bangor in the league table.
Looking ahead
The cup clash kicks off at 19:45 at Shamrock Park. Jeffrey confirmed he will make changes to his starting lineup for the match, utilising the squad depth he has been developing. Portadown's last meeting with Linfield ended in a 1-1 draw back in September.
The team will hope to carry their resilient performance into the cup, where a win would provide a further boost ahead of the Linfield match. Jeffrey will likely rotate his squad, utilising the depth he has been developing since the summer overhaul.
