Portadown travel to Solitude on Saturday 17 October for a Premiership fixture against Cliftonville, seeking to build on a rare victory and improve their league position. The match kicks off at 18:00 on 17 October, with the hosts having won the last meeting 3-1 back in September.
Portadown sit 12th in the Premiership with just four points from ten games, a record of one win, one draw and eight defeats. Their recent form reads WLLDL, but they secured a vital 3-1 home win over Limavady United last time out. That result, which saw goals from J. Teelan, B. Altintop and B. Kennedy, ended a run of three straight defeats. The team has conceded 25 goals in those ten matches, an average of 2.5 per game, while scoring only 9.
Recent form of both teams
Cliftonville are in a deep slump, having lost four of their last five league matches. Their most recent results include consecutive 1-0 defeats to Ballymena United and Limavady United. Portadown's form is also mixed, with that win over Limavady preceded by a 2-0 loss at Ballymena United and a 3-1 defeat away to Bangor. The contrasting momentum sets up a key encounter for both clubs.
Team news from last outings
The starting lineups from each side's last outing offer a glimpse of likely selections. Portadown fielded J. Barry in goal against Bangor, with a defence of D. Isamala, M. Carson, L. MacKinnon and L. Chapman. Cliftonville's last starting eleven, from their 2-1 loss to Glentoran, featured P. Morrison in goal and included attackers like R. Hale and B. Quinn.
Portadown's immediate focus, however, is a home match against fourth-placed Glentoran on 9 October. That fixture precedes the trip to Solitude and presents another tough challenge in a congested period. The club will hope their recent victory provides a platform for a more consistent run of results.
