Cliftonville host Portadown in the Northern Ireland Premiership. Cliftonville have been picking up more wins than losses in their recent matches, while Portadown have found the going much tougher.
The two sides met only last month, with Cliftonville coming out on top. That result sits alongside a much longer history between these clubs, and it's worth seeing what the wider pattern says before drawing any conclusions.
Analysis updated .
Compare bookmakers
Recent form for both sides
Cliftonville's last 20 matches across competitions show 10 wins against 9 defeats, with goals shared fairly evenly at both ends. It's a mixed bag rather than a dominant run, but they've generally found a way to win more than they lose.
Cliftonville FC: 20 completed matches; Portadown: 20 completed matches.
Cliftonville FC
- Win
- 50% 10 / 20
- Draw
- 0% 0 / 20
- Loss
- 50% 10 / 20
- Scored
- 28
- Conceded
- 30
- Difference
- -2
Portadown
- Win
- 25% 5 / 20
- Draw
- 25% 5 / 20
- Loss
- 50% 10 / 20
- Scored
- 23
- Conceded
- 33
- Difference
- -10
| League | Home | Away | Date | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiership | Limavady United | Cliftonville FC | 26.09.2026 | 1-0 |
| Premiership | Cliftonville FC | Glentoran | 19.09.2026 | 1-2 |
| Premiership | Larne | Cliftonville FC | 15.09.2026 | 2-0 |
| Premiership | Carrick Rangers | Cliftonville FC | 12.09.2026 | 1-3 |
| Premiership | Cliftonville FC | Portadown | 05.09.2026 | 3-1 |
| Premiership | Cliftonville FC | Dungannon Swifts | 29.08.2026 | 0-2 |
| Premiership | Linfield | Cliftonville FC | 21.08.2026 | 1-0 |
| Premiership | Bangor | Cliftonville FC | 15.08.2026 | 0-3 |
| Premiership | Cliftonville FC | Crusaders FC | 07.08.2026 | 2-1 |
| Friendlies Clubs | Cliftonville FC | Alvechurch | 25.07.2026 | 1-2 |
| League | Home | Away | Date | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiership | Ballymena United | Portadown | 26.09.2026 | 2-0 |
| Premiership | Bangor | Portadown | 19.09.2026 | 3-1 |
| Premiership | Portadown | Linfield | 15.09.2026 | 1-1 |
| Premiership | Portadown | Larne | 12.09.2026 | 0-2 |
| Premiership | Cliftonville FC | Portadown | 05.09.2026 | 3-1 |
| Premiership | Portadown | Coleraine FC | 28.08.2026 | 0-3 |
| Premiership | Crusaders FC | Portadown | 22.08.2026 | 3-2 |
| Premiership | Portadown | Dungannon Swifts | 15.08.2026 | 0-1 |
| Premiership | Carrick Rangers | Portadown | 08.08.2026 | 1-0 |
| Friendlies Clubs | Kilbarrack United | Portadown | 25.07.2026 | 0-3 |
Portadown's record over the same stretch is far more one-sided. Just 5 wins from 20, with 10 defeats and a goal difference well in the red. Several of those losses have been heavy, including a 3-0 and a 3-1 reverse in their last two league away days before this one.
Portadown's away form in particular has been leaking goals, which matters heading into a trip to Cliftonville.
Comparative Team Statistics: Cliftonville FC vs Portadown
Head-to-head record
These two have met regularly down the years, and the head-to-head has swung both ways over time. Cliftonville have had some big wins in this fixture, including a 4-1 and a 3-0, but Portadown have also won at Cliftonville and taken points in some tighter recent meetings.
| League | Home | Away | Date | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiership | Cliftonville FC | Portadown | 05.09.2026 | 3-1 |
| Premiership | Portadown | Cliftonville FC | 04.03.2026 | 0-2 |
| Premiership | Portadown | Cliftonville FC | 29.11.2025 | 2-3 |
| Premiership | Cliftonville FC | Portadown | 27.09.2025 | 1-2 |
| Premiership | Portadown | Cliftonville FC | 19.04.2025 | 2-0 |
| Premiership | Cliftonville FC | Portadown | 09.02.2025 | 2-2 |
| Premiership | Portadown | Cliftonville FC | 14.12.2024 | 2-0 |
| Premiership | Cliftonville FC | Portadown | 11.08.2024 | 1-0 |
| Irish Cup | Portadown | Cliftonville FC | 01.03.2024 | 0-2 |
| Friendlies Clubs | Cliftonville FC | Portadown | 08.07.2023 | 1-2 |
The most recent clash, back in early September, went 3-1 to Cliftonville. That's a data point worth noting, though it's just one match rather than a settled pattern given how often Portadown have caused problems here before.
Where they sit in the table
Cliftonville are 5th with 12 points from 8 games, built on 4 wins and 4 losses so far this season. Portadown are down in 12th with just a single point from the same number of matches, still searching for their first league win.
| № | Team | Played | Win | Draw | Loss | GF/GA | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Dungannon Swifts | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9/8 | 13 |
| 7 | Cliftonville FC | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 12/11 | 12 |
| 8 | Carrick Rangers | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 11/15 | 10 |
| 10 | Limavady United | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 7/11 | 9 |
| 11 | Bangor | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8/19 | 5 |
| 12 | Portadown | 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5/19 | 1 |
That's a significant gap in points and goal difference alike, and it lines up with the wider form picture rather than contradicting it.
How this one might play out
Cliftonville have scored freely at times this season and should carry an edge in quality, especially at home. Portadown's away form has been thin on goals and heavy on concessions, so keeping this close would represent a step up for them.
Even so, this fixture has a habit of throwing up surprises given the history between the clubs, so writing off Portadown completely feels premature.
Squad lists and player details
Squad and player details
| Name | Country | Age | Position | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conor Falls | England | 22 | Attacker | n/a | n/a |
| Name | Country | Age | Position | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C. Friel | Northern Ireland | 33 | Attacker | n/a | n/a |
| C. Dobbin | Northern Ireland | 28 | Midfielder | n/a | n/a |
| C. Coyle | Northern Ireland | 26 | Defender | n/a | n/a |
| T.J. Murray | Northern Ireland | 31 | Midfielder | n/a | n/a |
| A. Hogg | Northern Ireland | 38 | Goalkeeper | n/a | n/a |
| C. Rodgers | Northern Ireland | 35 | Attacker | n/a | n/a |
| P. McElroy | Northern Ireland | 32 | Attacker | n/a | n/a |
| K. Kane | Northern Ireland | 27 | Attacker | n/a | n/a |
| P. McNally | Northern Ireland | 32 | Defender | n/a | n/a |
| J. Browne | Republic of Ireland | 26 | Attacker | n/a | n/a |
| D. Montgomery | Northern Ireland | 35 | Defender | n/a | n/a |
| Z. Barr | Northern Ireland | 31 | Attacker | n/a | n/a |
| E. Hughes | Northern Ireland | 29 | Goalkeeper | n/a | n/a |
| Z. Cowan | Northern Ireland | 21 | Midfielder | n/a | n/a |
| J. McKay | Northern Ireland | 20 | Defender | n/a | n/a |
| J. Williamson | Northern Ireland | 22 | Attacker | n/a | n/a |
| J. Wright | Northern Ireland | 19 | Goalkeeper | n/a | n/a |
| A. Little | Northern Ireland | 21 | Midfielder | n/a | n/a |
| L. Burns | Northern Ireland | 20 | Attacker | 171 cm | n/a |
| S. Somerville | Northern Ireland | 21 | Defender | n/a | n/a |
Everything in the form and standings points towards Cliftonville, and that's a fair reflection of where both clubs are right now. But the head-to-head reminds us this fixture doesn't always follow the form book.
Without a market to weigh the evidence against, there's nothing concrete enough to back with confidence, so we're stepping aside on this one.
Who will win?
