Crues look to continue momentum at home to Mallards while Bannsiders host Glens

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Philip Lowry scored the fifth and final goal for the Crues against Linfield. Image credit: NIFL

Q Radio Sport

The Danske Bank Premiership programme gets underway on Friday night with Crusaders hosting Ballinamallard (7.45pm).

 

The Crues go into the Mallards game on the back of their sensational 5-2 victory over Linfield on Monday night.

 

The Fermanagh side won for the first time this season last Saturday, beating Carrick at Ferney Park.
 

So will Crues boss Stephen Baxter be taking the basement club as seriously as the Blues?

 

 

 

The stand-out fixture of the weekend is on Saturday with Coleraine welcoming the only team to have taken points off them this season, Glentoran.

 

The Bannsiders are five points clear at the top after winning 10 of their 11 games.

 

The only blemish for Oran Kearney's men in the first round of fixtures was a draw at the Oval.

 

However, Glens boss Gary Haveron says they face a real battle to get anything at the Showgrounds despite that close shave in the previous encounter.

 

 

Stripes fans are starting to talk about the title, but veteran centre-back Steven Douglas says it's time enough yet for dreams about lifting the Gibson Cup.

 

Coleraine have received a boost ahead of the Glens game with striker Jamie McGonigle signing a one-year contract extension, keeping the under-21 international at Ballycastle Road until 2020. 

Also on Saturday, second-placed Glenavon go to Carrick. 

 

Linfield hope to bounce back from the Crusaders defeat with a home win over Ards.

 

Here's Blues boss David Healy.

 

 

 

Ballymena host Warrenpoint Town.

 

Johnny McMurray hit the Sky Blues winner against Glentoran in the Shield mid-week on his comeback from injury and is set to start against his former club.

 

And he says there'll be no old pals act.

 

 

Likewise, Point boss Matthew Tipton, a Ballymena old boy, whose only focus is on taking three points against David Jeffrey's men.

 

Dungannon face Cliftonville at Stangmore Park.

 

Swifts manager Rodney McAree wants to get their league campaign back on track following a defeat against Glentoran last Saturday night...

 

 

All the Saturday matches start at 3pm. 

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