It's a look ahead to Boxing Day with NIFL Statzone as the biggest day in the Sports Direct Premiership is nearly upon us!
Stats are researched and supplied by Irish League Stats Man for more stats and insights follow on X.
81% of Linfield’s conceded league goals this season have come in the second half with 44% coming in the final 20 minutes plus stoppage time.
Linfield find themselves currently 13 points clear at the top of the league table but are 5 points behind their total in season 2023/24 after the same number of games.
Linfield have kept 3 clean sheets in a row after keeping only 7 in their previous 22 league games.
Steven McCullough’s winning goal for Portadown against Crusaders was the first time he has scored with his right foot in his 12-year Irish league career spanning over 350 games.
Portadown haven’t lost a home league game since the 28th September and have kept clean sheets in their last 3 home games.
Cliftonville have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 17 away league games.
Only 27% of Glentoran’s league goals this season have come at home.
Portadown’s Aaron McCarey has the most league clean sheets this season (8) and McCarey has 5 clean sheets in his last 7 league games.
There have been 73 goals in Loughgall’s 21 league games this season an average of 3.48 per game, the highest in the league.
Dungannon Swifts have the highest xG (expected goals per game) in the league (1.58) while Coleraine has the lowest (0.96)
The highest average number of yellow cards (5.59) has come in Ballymena United’s league games this season, whilst the average of 2.65 in Dungannon Swifts' games is the lowest.
Coleraine are unbeaten in their last 6 home league games against Ballymena United, the last time Ballymena won at the Coleraine Showgrounds on Boxing Day was in 2013.
There have been 22 goals in the last 7 boxing day fixtures at Seaview between Crusaders and Cliftonville, Crusaders winning 3, Cliftonville 2 and there have been 2 draws.
Conor McMenamin scored twice in Cliftonville’s last boxing day win at Seaview in 2019.
Glenavon have won the last 3 boxing day derbies at home to Portadown. The Port’s last win at Mourneview Park on boxing day was in 2011 with Goals coming from Kevin Braniff and Neil McCafferty - current Portadown player Ross Redman started the game.
The last 6 boxing day derbies at the Oval between Glentoran and Linfield have both teams winning 3 games each, there has only been 2 draws in the last 23 meeting between the two sides at the Oval in all competitions.
Glenavon have only scored first in two of their 21 league games this season (10%) they did however win both games.
Larne are unbeaten in boxing day fixtures since 26th December 2016 when they lost 3-2 to Ballyclare Comrades.
Carrick Rangers last boxing day win came on 26th December 2018 when they defeated Limavady United 3-1- Mark Surgenor is the only Carrick player at the club from that day.
Dungannon Swifts have 2 wins from their last 5 boxing day fixtures, the Swifts have played Loughgall, Newry City, Glenavon and Ballinamallard.
Loughgall have had different opponents on their last 3 boxing day match days, Dungannon Swifts, Annagh United and Portadown. Loughgall beat the Swifts 2-1 on Boxing Day last season.
