Crusaders FC face a key away trip to Ballymena United this Saturday aiming to arrest a slide in Premiership form. The fixture at Ballymena Showgrounds kicks off at 3pm local time with the visitors sitting sixth in the table, six points adrift of the top half after consecutive losses.
Their recent form reads LLWLW, with heavy 3-0 and 4-0 losses to Larne and Carrick Rangers in their last two outings. That has left them 13 points behind league leaders Coleraine, making a positive result against a mid-table rival important for momentum. The team's goal difference of minus six, from 15 scored and 21 conceded, shows the need for improvement.
Recent form and head-to-head
Crusaders will draw confidence from their last meeting with Ballymena, a 2-1 home victory in August. Their overall recent results, however, have been inconsistent. Before the two recent defeats, they secured a 2-1 win over Bangor and a 3-0 victory against Dungannon Swifts. The sequence of results in their last five games is two wins and three losses, with the losses coming in their last two matches against Larne and Carrick Rangers.
Ballymena United, currently eighth, have had mixed results themselves. Their last five games include a 2-3 loss to Limavady United, a 1-0 win at Cliftonville, and a 2-0 home victory over Portadown. They have proven capable of causing problems, especially at the Showgrounds.
The challenge ahead
No specific team news is available for the upcoming clash, but the last known starting XIs provide a glimpse of the squads. Crusaders' lineup against Linfield last month featured Barr in goal with a defence including Doherty and Dunlop. Midfield duties fell to the likes of Reid and Rocks.
Ballymena's last recorded side included D. Walsh in goal and a defensive unit of D. Toure and M. Glynn. Forwards like C. McConnell and K. Lyons-Foster will be looking to test a Crusaders defence that has conceded 21 goals this season.
With 15 goals scored and 21 conceded, Crusaders' goal difference stands at minus six. The next fixture is away to Ballymena United on Saturday 17 October. A win could provide a vital platform before the next round of matches.
