Glentoran travel to Shamrock Park on Saturday looking for a positive result following a draw and two defeats in their last three Danske Bank Premiership fixtures.
Portadown kicked off their league campaign with two draws. A late penalty in their opener against Linfield resulted in a 1-all draw and they followed that with a creditable 2-all result away to Coleraine. After an expected home win over newly promoted Ards, Ronnie McFall's side took all three points at Solitude despite going behind in the game. They lost their first league game of the season on the first weekend of September, going down 2-1 at Ballymena United but then had a goal spree against Ballinamallard Utd, winning 11-0. A home win against Dungannon Swifts and a 2-all draw at Seaview leaves Portadown currently in second place in the Danske Bank Premiership table, just two points behind neighbours Glenavon.
Last season the two clubs met four times. The away team was victorious on each of the league meetings; Glentoran recording 1-0 and 4-2 wins at Shamrock Park with the Ports winning 2-1 at the Oval. The other meeting was of course in the semi-final of the Irish Cup where Marcus Kane's late header booked Glentoran's place in the final.
A number of supporters' clubs are running buses to this game: They can be found here
At this Saturday's Portadown v Glentoran game, a bucket collection will be taking place for the Buddy Bear Trusts Special School in Dungannon. All pupils who attend this school have either Motor Disorders or Cerebal Palsy. We hope that supporters of both teams will support this worthwhile cause.
Further details are available HERE