Irish League Football

Image source, Inpho

Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter says that every point is "precious" after a 1-1 draw with Glentoran at the Oval.

David Fisher's deflected strike for Glentoran was cancelled out by Danny Gibson in the second half.

Jay Donnelly had an injury-time penalty saved by Carrick keeper Ross Glendinning.

Baxter's side moved further clear of bottom side Loughgall with the draw, which was Carrick's first point on the road this season.

"We deserved that point today," said Baxter, who replaced Stuart King as manager earlier in October.

"Coming to a venue like this, against a top, top team is brilliant for us.

"We'll fight for every point that is going right now. We'll see where it takes us but we're pleased with our day's work."

Carrick face Glenavon in their next league match and can move within a point of the Lurgan Blues with victory.

"We have to treat it one game at a time and pick the games off," Baxter added.

"We don't want to look at six games up the road and see where we want to be. You can't predict anything."

Andrew Mitchell and Leo Alves are on target as Dungannon Swifts beat Portadown 2-0 to continue their superb start to the season.

Rhyss Campbell scores the only goal of the game as Coleraine end Ballymena United's winning run with a 1-0 victory over their derby rivals at the Showgrounds.

Cliftonville are without a win in five Irish Premiership matches after being held to a goalless draw by 10-man Glenavon, who had Rhys Marshall sent off at Solitude.

Jay Donnelly misses an injury-time penalty as Glentoran are held to a 1-1 draw by Carrick Rangers at the Oval.

David Fisher fired home the opening goal before former Glentoran striker Danny Gibson equalised.

Benji Magee scores a second-half equaliser to cancel out Kieran Offord's opener as Larne draw 1-1 with Crusaders in the Irish Premiership.

Image source, Press Eye

Linfield assistant manager Ross Oliver says he would have wanted a better performance in the 3-1 win over Loughgall but securing the three points was the ultimate aim at Lakeview Park.

Oliver was in charge in the dugout with boss David Healy suspended as the Blues secured a victory which takes them two points clear at the top of the Premiership.

"Performance wise we probably would have wanted a better display but it doesn't really matter as we have the three points," he said.

A quick-fire double put Linfield in control with a superb Joel Cooper strike followed a minute later by Kirk Millar slotting home.

Nathaniel Ferris pulled one back for the bottom side from a penalty midway through the second half.

Charlie Allen eased Linfield nerves by sealing the win with a wonderful run and shot in added time.

"It's something we talk to the players about all the time - when we are in the ascendency can we kill teams off. Our start was very good and we probably had two or three chances after the second goal.

"So if you take those chances we could relax a bit more and play a bit more.

"If you get Charlie on the ball in the right area of the pitch he can hurt teams. He's very good and took his goal well. Loughgall showed great fighting spirit but we got there in the end."

Image source, Presseye

Loughgall manager Dean Smith has said battling in the lower reaches of the Irish Premiership is a challenge the club was expecting at some stage but he hadn't counted on things being quite so difficult in the current campaign.

The Villagers finished ninth last season following their promotion to the top division and started this term satisfactorily by collecting four points from their opening two games.

Smith's side have managed only one further point from their subsequent 10 league outings and have lost their last seven on the bounce, as well as exiting the BetMcLean Cup at the hands of Armagh City.

"It's a different challenge but it's a challenge we probably knew was coming at some stage so us as a group are well prepared for it," said Smith.

"We knew it could be a tough season but it's probably one that we maybe didn't expect to be this tough.

"We obviously started ok and the last few games we haven't been getting the results that our performances have warranted sometimes.

"At the end of the day we know that we're a small village club and where we are in terms of finances."

Things don't get easier for the league's basement side as they aim to close the four-point gap to 11th-placed Carrick Rangers in the league standings.

Linfield are the visitors to Lakeview Park on Friday night in a match which will be broadcast on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

"They're a top team and for us, it's probably why we fought so hard to get into this league is to have teams like Linfield coming to Lakeview Park on a Friday night under lights with the BBC cameras there," said Smith.

"They have players all over the pitch that can hurt you at any time. We know we have to be at our very, very best."

Former Glentoran and Crusaders player Paul Leeman will join Michael McNamee as the special guest on this weekend's Sportsound programme on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Ulster and the BBC Sport website from 14:00 BST on Saturday.

Here are his predictions for the six games.

Loughgall v Linfield (Lakeview Park, Friday, 19:45 BST, live on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app)

Linfield will be looking to put a run of wins together and it’s hard to see past them at Loughall on Friday after an excellent win at Seaview last week.

Prediction: 2-0 Linfield

Glentoran v Carrick Rangers (The Oval, Saturday, 15:00 BST, coverage on Sportsound)

Glentoran are in good form, confidence is high after three wins on the bounce. I believe they will have too much for Carrick.

Prediction: 2-0 Glentoran

Larne v Crusaders (Inver Park, Saturday, 15:00 BST, coverage on Sportsound)

Crusaders face a huge task away to Larne whose last league game ended in a 3-0 defeat by Dungannon Swifts. Tiernan Lynch will demand a big response from his players!

Prediction: 3-1 Larne

Ballymena Utd v Coleraine (Ballymena Showgrounds, Saturday, 15:00 BST, coverage on Sportsound)

The Ballymena v Coleraine derby game is a huge one for both teams. Ballymena are on a superb run, but could this be the stage for Coleraine to bounce back after last week’s defeat at Carrick?

Prediction: 1-1

Cliftonville v Glenavon (Solitude, Saturday, 14:30 BST, coverage on Sportsound)

Cliftonville have had a poor season so far by their standards and having lost their last 3 in the league. They will see Glenavon at Solitude as a game they can get a positive result in.

Prediction: 1-0 Cliftonville

Dungannon Swifts v Portadown (Stangmore Park, Saturday, 15:00 BST, coverage on Sportsound)

Dungannon lost an injury time goal last time out v Ports so they will want to avenge that defeat, but I feel the game will be close once again.

Prediction: 1-1

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree says his side were "nowhere near the levels required" after their 2-0 defeat against Glentoran at the Oval.

Goals from David Fisher and Paddy McClean in the second half ended Dungannon's four game unbeaten run in the league, which included last week's impressive 3-0 win against Larne at Inver Park.

And McAree was not impressed by their display in east Belfast.

"I thought we were poor, I can have no argument with the scoreline," he told BBC Sport NI.

"In the second half we made so many silly decisions and so many silly mistakes and we conceded two awful goals," McAree continued.

"We are disappointed because we have had a great start to the season, so I am not going to be too disappointed in the players, we'll put it in the bin because it wasn't us."

McAree was particularly frustrated by the Swifts' response to Glentoran's quickfire goals early in the second half.

"We didn't look like we had any heart or desire to get back into the game, we looked like we gave up the ghost," he admitted.

"The most positive thing about the scoreline was it was only 2-0, it could have been a hell of a lot more."

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Glentoran boss Declan Devine says that his players "deserve credit" after another superb second half showing helped them beat Dungannon Swifts 2-0 at the Oval.

David Fisher recovered from missing a first half penalty to open the scoring for the Glens in the second period.

Paddy McClean sealed the win with a second goal minutes later as the Glens made it back-to-back league wins after last week's impressive victory against Linfield.

"I thought we played really well; it was difficult conditions with the really strong wind, but I thought we managed the game and the disappointment of not scoring the penalty really well," Devine told BBC Sport NI.

"The only real disappointing factor is that we haven't scored more goals. We were very creative, and their goalkeeper had an inspired afternoon," he continued.

"We regrouped at half-time and started the second half really well, we worked extremely hard for our chances, we had one hit the post, and one cleared off the line, so we were maybe a wee bit wasteful with our finishing, but the players deserve credit."

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Loughgall manager Dean Smith criticised the officials after his side had a late equaliser ruled out in their 1-0 defeat by Portadown at Shamrock Park.

Steven McCullough's fine early free-kick won the game for the Ports and condemned Loughgall to their ninth defeat in their 12 league games.

And Smith was not impressed by the decision to rule out the Villagers' goal.

"I've heard two different things from the officials. Originally it was for Nathaniel Ferris being in the line of the eye of the goalkeeper," Smith told BBC Sport NI.

"We've not watched it back and he's not, so now they're saying it was because he was interfering with play, so I don't really know.

"He's in an offside position, there is no doubt about it, but does he stop the ball going in the net or have any interference on Aaron McCarey making the save, I don't think so."

Smith believed the decision is one of many refereeing errors his side have been victim of this campaign.

"That has been the rhetoric of our season so far, I don't think we have got the rub of the green with the officials," he continued.

"I thought we had equalised, we probably deserved the equaliser over the play in general and in my opinion, we don't have the strength and depth of officials as we do players in this league."