We’re back for the second week of our NIFL prediction league with eight members of our time trying to guess how things will pan out in the six Danske Bank Premiership teams. You can check back on how the panellists did last week by clicking HERE and after week one the table looks like:
1. Darren – 7
2. Keith F – 6
3. Cameron – 5
4. Rodney/Bryan – 4
6. Keith O’D/Henry – 3
8. Adrian – 2
Darren has raced into an early lead after correctly being able to predice the correct results in the Dungannon v Ards (0-0) and Glentoran v Institute (2-2) fixtures last week and Keith F also correctly guessed that Newry and Warrenpoint would score a goal apiece to tie 1-1 and got the correct outcome in three other matches. Adrian is bringing up the rear at present but there is still plenty of time left.
Without much further ado let’s take a brief look at this weekend’s fixtures and our panels predictions.
For the second week running we have a new manager in a dugout as Kris Lindsay was confirmed as Dungannon Swifts new manager this week. Lindsay enjoyed a playing career with Portadown, Larne, Linfield and Glenavon but this is his first managerial role, though he was a valued member of Gary Hamilton’s backroom staff at Glenavon. Lindsay won’t have much time to get used to things as a manager as he takes over with the Swifts sitting 11th in the table, they did get their first win of the season on Tuesday night as they defeated champions Crusaders. Lindsay takes his new side to familiar surroundings tomorrow as they travel to Mourneview Park to take on current table toppers Glenavon.
Rodney McAree has had two games in charge of Coleraine and two draws, keeping the Bannsiders unbeaten start to the season alive. The draws against Linfield and Ballymena will not be viewed as bad results by McAree, particularly the Ballymena game were his team were reduced to ten men, but he will want to get a win under his belt and tomorrow against Newry City may just be the team they do just that.
Last season’s champions Crusaders have already lost more matches this season than they did in the whole of the last campaign and while it would be foolish to rule them out of the title race at this stage anything less than a win for Stephen Baxter’s men tomorrow against Institute would certainly leave them facing an uphill battle.
Rodney
Cliftonville 3 Ards 0
Glenavon 3 Dungannon Swifts 1
Institute 0 Crusaders 3
Linfield 2 Ballymena United 0
Newry City 0 Coleraine 2
Warrenpoint Town 1 Glentoran 3
Darren
Cliftonville 3 Ards 1
Glenavon 3 Dungannon Swifts 0
Institute 1 Crusaders 1
Linfield 3 Ballymena United 0
Newry City 0 Coleraine 1
Warrenpoint Town 1 Glentoran 3
Keith O’D
Cliftonville 2 Ards 0
Glenavon 1 Dungannon Swifts 0
Institute 0 Crusaders 3
Linfield 2 Ballymena United 1
Newry City 1 Coleraine 1
Warrenpoint Town 1 Glentoran 3
Keith F
Cliftonville 3 Ards 1
Glenavon 2 Dungannon 0
Institute 0 Crusaders 2
Linfield 2 Ballymena United 0
Newry City 0 Coleraine 1
Warrenpoint Town 1 Glentoran 4
Bryan
Cliftonville 1 Ards 1
Glenavon 2 Dungannon Swifts 1
Institute 0 Crusaders 1
Linfield 2 Ballymena United 1
Newry City 0 Coleraine 2
Warrenpoint 0 Glentoran 2
Henry
Cliftonville 1 Ards
Glenavon 3 Dungannon Swifts 0
Institute 0 Crusaders 2
Linfield 2 Ballymena United 2
Newry City 1 Coleraine 2
Warrenpoint Town 0 Glentoran 2
Adrian
Cliftonville 2 Ards 0
Glenavon 3 Dungannon Swifts 1
Institute 0 Crusaders 4
Linfield 3 Ballymena United 1
Newry City 1 Coleraine 3
Warrenpoint Town 0 Glentoran 2
Cameron
Cliftonville 2 Ards 0
Glenavon 1 Dungannon Swifts 2
Institute 0 Crusaders 3
Linfield 2 Ballymena United 1
Newry City 0 Coleraine 3
Warrenpoint Town 0 Glentoran 2
There is no League of Ireland action this week due to the FAI Cup semi-finals taking place so we will have no prediction league for Southern matches this week but if you are looking for your League of Ireland football fix check out Keith O’D’s roundup HERE.
