Summary

  1. Team newspublished at 14:21 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2024

    Linfield v Coleraine

    Linfield manager David Healy makes four changes to the team which went down 1-0 to Glentoran in the Bet McLean Cup at the beginning of the month.

    Goalkeeper Chris Johns, Chris McKee and Ethan McGee begin their afternoon on the bench while there is no place in the match day squad for defender Scot Whiteside.

    David Walsh returns in goals with club captain Jamie Mulgrew, Sam Roscoe and Matthew Orr also in from the start.

    Interestingly, striker Robbie McDaid is listed among the replacements, a welcome return to first-team action for the Omagh man who has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons.

    Bannsiders' boss Dean Shiels, meanwhile, makes five changes to the side which started last time - out a 3-3 draw at Glenavon at the end of November.

    The big news is that leading goalscorer Matthew Shevlin, with 13 league goals to his name, is not involved because of injury.

    Goalkeeper Max Little, defenders Cameron Stewart and Jack Scott, and midfielder Connor Murray all drop to the bench.

    Rory Brown replaces Little between the sticks while central defender Kyle McClelland returns after suspension, there are recalls for Senan Devine and Ciaron Harkin and a rare start for winger Kyle Spence.

    Linfield: Walsh, Roscoe, East, Shields, Millar, Cooper, Hall, Fallon, Mulgrew (c), Fitzpatrick, Orr.

    Subs: Johns, McDaid, Ballantyne, McKee, Archer, McGee, Annett.

    Coleraine: Brown, Kane (c), Jarvis, Boyle, Campbell, Spence, McClelland, Harkin, Glackin, Devine, Smith.

    Subs: Little, Stewart, Scott, Murray, McLaughlin, Tejada, McClintock.

    Linfield v ColeraineImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Linfield v Coleraine

  2. Watch: 'We lost our way' - Crues boss Caddellpublished at 14:15 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2024

    Fri night: Crusaders 1-3 Glentoran

    Crusaders manager Declan Caddell laments his side's second-half collapse which saw them concede three goals in quick-fire fashion to go down to Belfast rivals Glentoran.

    Read the match report here.

    Media caption,

    Watch: 'Seven minutes of madness cost us' - Caddell

  3. Abuse of strikers has not been 'very fair' - Devinepublished at 14:11 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2024

    Fri night: Crusaders 1-3 Glentoran

    Glentoran manager Declan Devine said he was delighted to see Jordan Jenkins and Wassim Aouachira find the net in the side's 3-1 victory over Crusaders at Seaview.

    Coming into the game, the east Belfast side were the lowest scorers in the Irish Premiership's top eight with forwards at the Oval coming in for criticism in recent weeks.

    But, after coming off the bench in the second half, Jenkins cancelled out Jordan Forsythe's 24th-minute header with his first league goal since August before summer signing and fellow substitute Wassim opened his account for the Glens to round off the comeback.

    "I'm delighted for them because they've waited for their chance and JJ [Jenkins] has got a few important goals for us this year," said Devine.

    "I don't think it's very fair that the front players have come in for a bit of abuse because it's all over the pitch, it's a team game and we saw that tonight.

    "We're creating a lot of opportunities but we've missed chances from set-pieces too with defenders up in the box. All in all, if anyone is getting abuse, we all take it as a group."

    Glentoran manager Declan DevineImage source, Presseye
    Image caption,

    Glentoran manager Declan Devine with goalscorer Charlie Lindsay

  4. Watch: Subs strike to earn Glens comeback win over Cruespublished at 14:06 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2024

    Crusaders 1-3 Glentoran

    Glentoran recovered from a one-goal deficit to beat Crusaders 3-1 at Seaview and move into third place in the Irish Premiership table table ahead of Saturday's programme of fixtures.

    Three Glens players scored goals after coming on as second-half substitutes.

    Jordan Forsythe headed the hosts ahead from a corner midway through the first half but Jordan Jenkins sparked the visitors' revival when he stabbed the ball home on 73 minutes to level.

    Charlie Lindsay's strike three minutes later nudged the east Belfast side in front and Wassim Aouachria made sure of the three points when he steered home the rebound after Jenkins' initial shot with seven minutes remaining.

    Media caption,

    Watch: Second-half comeback helps Glens stun Crues

  5. Irish Premiership fixturespublished at 14:03 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2024

    Saturday, 14 December, 15:00 GMT

    Irish Premiership fixturesImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Irish Premiership fixtures

  6. Premiership games 'to the four'published at 13:55 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2024

    Storm Darragh may have been the winner seven days ago but with Christmas just around the corner we're good to go for a four-match Irish Premiership programme this afternoon.

    Leaders Linfield are seven points clear at the summit of the table and will want to ensure no slip-ups at home this afternoon when they entertain eighth-placed Coleraine at Windsor Park.

    Cliftonville occupy second spot at present following just one defeat from their past eight games but face a testing trip to Shamrock Park to take on Portadown today.

    A Ballymena United side who have won nine and lost nine of their 18 league games to date have home advantage over fourth-placed Dungannon Swifts while a crucial game in the lower half of the table sees Carrick Rangers host Loughgall.

    As always, you can keep across all the action courtesy of our live audio commentary on Sportsound, text commentary and in-play clips, followed by a report and video highlights from all four fixtures. We have you covered.

  7. Live commentary will appear here on Saturdaypublished at 16:24 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2024

    Live text commentary and in-play clips from Saturday's four Irish Premiership fixtures will appear here on Saturday from 14:00 GMT.