Portadown vs Coleraine FC

<div> <h2>Portadown vs Coleraine – Form, Numbers and Where the Value Lies</h2> <p>Shamrock Park hosts an early-season Premiership contest that pits Portadown’s inconsistency against Coleraine’s quietly authoritative start. Seven days’ rest since both last played means freshness should not be a factor. The statistical picture, however, is strikingly one-sided.</p> <h3>Form and Momentum</h3> <p>Portadown’s six-match slate (W2 L4) includes heavy defeats away to Larne (0–4) and Linfield (0–3) and a home reverse to Ballymena (0–2). Even their brighter moments—4–1 at Dungannon and a 2–1 home win over Crusaders—sit alongside concerning attacking and defensive splits: just 0.67 goals per game at home and a 67% failed-to-score rate. Their equalizing rate is 0% and they have taken 0.00 points per game when conceding first—signals that they rarely claw back games once behind.</p> <p>Coleraine’s undefeated start (W4 D1) has been built on steel and structure. They’ve conceded once in five fixtures, banking 80% clean sheets and winning away at Crusaders 4–0. Their away PPG sits at 2.33 with 2.00 goals scored and 0.33 conceded per game. They’ve scored first in 80% of matches and haven’t trailed at any stage this season.</p> <h3>Venue-Specific Patterns</h3> <p>At Shamrock Park, Portadown’s output is thin: 0.67 GF and 1.33 GA per match, with only one home win. Coleraine travel well—two away wins and one draw, with two clean sheets in three. The away side’s defensive numbers compare favorably to league averages (0.33 away GA vs league 1.34), while Portadown’s home attack of 0.67 GF lags well behind the league’s 1.34.</p> <h3>Timing and Flow of Goals</h3> <p>Coleraine strike notably in the 31–45 minute window (four goals overall; four first-half goals away). They were 0–3 up by halftime at Crusaders. Portadown, conversely, concede heavily after the break (67% of goals conceded in the second half), with a particularly weak 46–60 segment. That profile supports first-half edges for Coleraine and reinforces the late-control narrative for the away side.</p> <h3>Situational Edges</h3> <p>The split between ppg when scoring first and when conceding first defines the matchup. Portadown post 0.00 ppg after conceding first and have an equalizing rate of 0%. Coleraine’s lead-defending rate is 80% and they simply haven’t been behind yet. If the Bannsiders land the opener—as the 80% first scorer rate suggests—they’re strongly positioned to lock down the points.</p> <h3>Players to Watch</h3> <p>Coleraine’s attacking threats come in waves: Joel Cooper’s brace at Seaview, plus regular scorers Matthew Shevlin and Declan McManus. Their pressing and transition play have produced early and late goals alike (notably 31–45’ and 76–90’ segments). For Portadown, Eamon Fyfe and Jordan Gibson have been the bright sparks—Fyfe netted in the 2–1 win over Crusaders and both scored in the 4–1 at Dungannon—but the supply line has been inconsistent, especially against top-half defenses.</p> <h3>Markets and Value</h3> <p>The numbers argue strongest for “BTTS – No.” Portadown have failed to score in two-thirds of their matches, while Coleraine have kept four clean sheets from five. Odds at 1.95 imply roughly a 51% probability, whereas the combined indicators push nearer to the mid-to-high 50s. Coleraine to win at 1.80 aligns with the table, form, and tactical matchups. Shorter but still appealing is Coleraine to score first at 1.62, considering they have opened the scoring in 80% of games and Portadown rarely recover.</p> <p>For bolder plays, “Coleraine & Under 2.5” at 4.00 captures the common 0–1/0–2 profiles; Portadown’s home matches skew lower scoring and Coleraine’s defense throttles chance creation. The exact score 0–2 at 8.00 maps neatly onto the data: Coleraine’s road control, Portadown’s low home GF, and the dominant clean-sheet trend.</p> <h3>Context and Caution</h3> <p>It is still early season, so sample sizes are modest. That said, the disparity is reinforced by last season’s trajectories and current sentiment: Portadown fighting to consolidate their place, Coleraine eyeing Europe and beyond. With both sides largely healthy and the forecast favorable, the tactical baseline (Coleraine’s shape, pressing triggers, and set-piece threat) should shine through against Portadown’s fragile build-up and limited final-third output.</p> <h3>Prediction</h3> <p>Coleraine to win and keep control, with the clean-sheet angle live. Best-value outlook: Coleraine 0–2.</p> </div>