Linfield dropped points on Saturday for the second game in a row when they drew 0-0 with Glentoran at The Oval, of course it could have been much worse for David Healy’s side had Chris Johns not saved Robbie McDaid’s second half penalty.
A draw keeps the Blues top of the table but Coleraine’s victory against Cliftonville cut their lead to six points.
The draw for Mick McDermott’s side on Saturday effectively ended whatever slim title hopes the Glens may have still had but they are still well within the hunt for 2nd place and the European spot that comes with that in what has turned out to be a decent campaign in East Belfast after the start they had.
Coleraine currently occupy 2nd place and lead McDermott’s side by a point, Larne and Cliftonville still have a slim chance but it would take a collapse from the other two sides in the hunt so they both may have to settle for a place in the European play-off spots.
As things stand the final European play-off spot will go to Glenavon but Ballymena are only three points behind so that one could go right to the wire.
Here are the results from last weekend’s games: –
Dungannon Swifts 0-2 Carrick Rangers
Crusaders 1-3 Larne
Ballymena United 3-1 Glenavon
Coleraine 2-0 Cliftonville
Glentoran 0-0 Linfield
Portadown 1-2 Warrenpoint Town
Here are the current league standings: –
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
| 1 | Linfield | 34 | 22 | 5 | 7 | 76 | 34 | 42 | 71 |
| 2 | Coleraine | 34 | 19 | 8 | 7 | 52 | 32 | 20 | 65 |
| 3 | Glentoran | 34 | 18 | 10 | 6 | 61 | 29 | 32 | 64 |
| 4 | Larne | 34 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 59 | 36 | 23 | 58 |
| 5 | Cliftonville | 34 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 55 | 37 | 18 | 56 |
| 6 | Crusaders | 34 | 16 | 5 | 13 | 60 | 43 | 17 | 53 |
| 7 | Glenavon | 34 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 57 | 60 | -3 | 52 |
| 8 | Ballymena United | 34 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 53 | 41 | 12 | 49 |
| 9 | Portadown | 34 | 8 | 6 | 20 | 41 | 67 | -26 | 30 |
| 10 | Warrenpoint Town | 34 | 7 | 9 | 18 | 34 | 66 | -32 | 30 |
| 11 | Carrick Rangers | 34 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 30 | 77 | -47 | 23 |
| 12 | Dungannon Swifts | 34 | 4 | 4 | 26 | 18 | 74 | -56 | 16 |
Here are tonight’s (Tuesday 4th May 2021) fixtures, with all games set to kick off at 19:45 unless otherwise stated: –
Carrick Rangers v Ballymena United (Tuesday 4th Mat 2021 at 19:30 – streamed on BBC iPlayer)
Cliftonville v Larne
Warrenpoint Town v Dungannon Swifts
Glenavon v Portadown
Glentoran v Coleraine
Linfield v Crusaders
Here are our writing team’s predictions for tonight’s games. As always, it’s three points for a correct prediction and a point for a correct outcome.
Darren
Carrick Rangers 1-2 Ballymena United
Cliftonville 1-1 Larne
Dungannon Swifts 0-2 Warrenpoint Town
Glenavon 2-1 Portadown
Glentoran 1-1 Coleraine
Linfield 0-0 Crusaders
Richard
Carrick Rangers 1-3 Ballymena United
Cliftonville 2-1 Larne
Dungannon Swifts 3-0 Warrenpoint Town
Glenavon 2-3 Portadown
Glentoran 1-3 Coleraine
Linfield 2-0 Crusaders
Rodney
Carrick Rangers 1-2 Ballymena United
Cliftonville 2-2 Larne
Dungannon Swifts 1-2 Warrenpoint Town
Glenavon 2-1 Portadown
Glentoran 1-1 Coleraine
Linfield 2-1 Crusaders
Adrian
Carrick Rangers 2-1 Ballymena United
Cliftonville 2-1 Larne
Dungannon Swifts 0-3 Warrenpoint Town
Glenavon 1-1 Portadown
Glentoran 1-2 Coleraine
Linfield 3-1 Crusaders
Cameron
Carrick Rangers 0-4 Ballymena United
Cliftonville 2-1 Larne
Dungannon Swifts 0-2 Warrenpoint Town
Glenavon 2-2 Portadown
Glentoran 1-1 Coleraine
Linfield 2-1 Crusaders
