In the latest NIFL Statzone we unpack the stats behind the Sports Direct Premiership ahead of a full weekend of action.

Stats are researched and supplied by Irish League Stats Man for more stats and insights follow on X.

Glenavon’s new manager Paddy McLaughlin is unbeaten in his league managerial career against Portadown (9 games with Cliftonville 3 games with Institute) - his teams have scored in all 12 league fixtures.

78% of Portadown league goals have come in the 2nd half of league games this season. -57% of the goals coming in the final 15 minutes plus stoppage time, the league average for goals in this period is 24%.

Paul Heatley has 3 goals in his last 3 home league games and 18 career league goals against Dungannon Swifts.

80% of Carrick Rangers league points have come at home this season with 72% of their goals coming in home league fixtures as well.

Larne have picked up the most points this season against last year’s top 6 (17)

In the last 6 league meetings between Portadown and Glenavon at Shamrock Park there have been two home wins, two away wins and two draws.

Glentoran are the only team Linfield haven’t taken points off in the league this season.

In the last 13 league meetings at the Oval Between Linfield and Glentoran, the Glens have won 6, Linfield 5 and there has been 2 draws.

Glentoran’s Dániel Gyollai has the most league clean sheets this season (6)- the Former Hungarian under 21 goalkeeper has a 56% clean sheet record at the Oval.

Since the start of the 2015/2016 season (Not including the 19/20 season due to less games due to covid curtailment) the average points total to win the league is 86 points and the average points to finish 10th and avoid the relegation playoff is 35 points.

Ballymena United have used the most new signings in the league this season (14).

Glentoran’s Frankie Hvid is the youngest player to play every league minute this season - the 19-year-old has 3 goals and 1 assist in the league this season.

Crusaders Kieran Offord, Ballymena’s Ben Kennedy and Linfield’s Joel Cooper have all scored 4 match winning goals in the league this season.

Carrick Rangers have used the most players in the league this season (25).

Dungannon Swifts are yet to concede a league goal in the first 20 minutes of league games this season- the earliest goal they have conceded was in the 22nd minute.

Matthew Shevlin has scored his most league goals for Coleraine in the month of October (12) - the striker has 33 Coleraine league goals in August, September, and October but only 6 in November and December.

Linfield's Joel Cooper has 17 goal contributions in 16 league games this season.