Ballymena United vs Glenavon - 16/04/24 | Fast live stats

Ballymena United vs Glenavon Prediction & Preview

Preview

As the Northern Ireland Premiership rolls into its 3rd round, a captivating clash is on the cards this Tuesday, 16th April, when Ballymena United welcomes Glenavon to The Showgrounds. With both teams looking to assert their dominance early in the season, this match promises to be an engaging encounter.

Under the guidance of Jim Ervin, Ballymena United aims to build on their current standing at 5th in the league with 22 points. Despite their middling form of late—with a recent record showing one win and one loss—their last outing ended in a narrow defeat against Carrick Rangers (2-1) away from home. They'll be eager to leverage their home advantage this time around.

Glenavon, steered by Stephen McDonnell, sits comfortably at 4th place with an impressive tally of 37 points. Their form mirrors that of their opponents', having also experienced mixed fortunes recently (one win and one loss). Their latest match saw them falling short against Loughgall with a scoreline of 3-1 away. However, holding a commendable track record against Ballymena—winning four out of the last five head-to-head encounters—they step onto The Showgrounds as slight favorites.

The previous face-off between these two sides witnessed Ballymena United clinching victory over Glenavon with a slender margin (0-1) at Mourneview Park. This encounter could offer Glenavon an opportunity for redemption or allow Ballymena to establish newfound dominance.

Both teams have demonstrated considerable variability in their scoring and defensive capabilities; Ballymena averages just under one goal per game while conceding more than two goals on average per outing—a trend they'll surely hope to improve upon playing at home where they slightly reduce conceded goals but also score less frequently themselves. In contrast, Glenavon has shown better offensive prowess with an average scoring rate higher than that of Ballymena’s but shares similar defensive vulnerabilities—especially notable during away matches where they concede over three goals on average.

Bet

Given both teams' recent performances and historical matchups combined with statistical insights into their scoring trends—the smart money might lean towards expecting goals aplenty in this fixture. With Glenavon's slightly superior offensive record but equally shaky defense (especially noticeable when playing away), coupled with relatively generous odds offered for goal-heavy outcomes; recommending Over 2.5 goals as your bet seems like an appealing choice for those looking towards value betting opportunities within this intriguing Premiership showdown.