Warrenpoint's game with Ards goes ahead as planned

Warrenpoint's Irish Premiership clash with Ards on Boxing Day is to go ahead at 15:00 GMT as planned at Milltown.

On Friday night, Warrenpoint's match against Glenavon had to be abandoned because of floodlight failure.

It was the County Down club's first Premiership match at their own ground having played earlier games at Dungannon's Stangmore Park.

League chiefs have been assured that the electrical fault has been repair and the lights are fully operational.

The match involves the Premiership's bottom two clubs, both promoted at the end of last season.

Ards are three points behind Town but boss Niall Currie said Saturday's 0-0 draw against Glentoran should boost self-belief in his team.

Cliftonville boss Tommy Breslin, meanwhile, fears leaders Linfield could stretch their four-point advantage at the top of the table over the festive period.

Breslin's champions face a tough north Belfast derby trip to fellow title challengers Crusaders on Boxing Day.

"The unfortunate thing is Linfield could be the big winners if our game ends up a draw," said the Reds manager.

"It is a massive game and there will be a big crowd. We will give it a go and hopefully come out on top."

Crusaders, leaders a few weeks ago but now down to third after Saturday's defeat at Ballymena, report injury concerns over striker Timmy Adamson, winger Paul Heatley and defender Joshua Robinson.

"Our games with Cliftonville are usually very close," said Crues manager Stephen Baxter.

"We have fallen five points behind Linfield and we really need to try to keep ourselves in it."

Linfield may have lost two of their last three away games in the Premiership, but they are favourites to win the Belfast derby against Glentoran.

Blues skipper Michael Gault is still serving a suspension and misses the game along with injured full-back Niall Quinn.

Fourth-placed Glentoran are now 10 points behind their cross-city rivals after being held by bottom club Ards at the weekend.

Portadown are also 10 points off the pace and they will seek to recover from Saturday's defeat by Linfield with victory ion the Mid-Ulster derby away to Glenavon.

Coleraine, desperate to halt a seven-game losing sequence, are at home to their derby rivals Ballymena while Dungannon Swifts make the journey to Ballinamallard United.

Danske Bank Irish Premiership

Thursday 26 December (15:00 GMT)

Ballinamallard United v Dungannon Swifts

Coleraine v Ballymena United

Crusaders v Cliftonville

Glenavon v Portadown

Glentoran v Linfield

Warrenpoint Town v Ards