Glentoran vs Larne Prediction

Larne's solid season against Glentoran's recent upturn

Over their last 20 matches, Larne have won well over half and scored freely along the way. Their form has wobbled a touch lately though, with defeats to Linfield and Coleraine in October breaking up an otherwise decent autumn.

Glentoran: 20 completed matches; Larne: 20 completed matches.

Glentoran

20 matches

Win

35% 7 / 20

Draw

20% 4 / 20

Loss

45% 9 / 20

Scored

32

Conceded

31

Difference

+1

Larne

20 matches

Win

60% 12 / 20

Draw

10% 2 / 20

Loss

30% 6 / 20

Scored

29

Conceded

25

Difference

+4

Glentoran's overall numbers are less flattering across the same span, but they've strung together four wins and a draw in their last five outings. That suggests they're finding some rhythm heading into this one, even if the season total doesn't show it yet.

Current form looks a lot closer than the season-long records suggest.

A fixture that rarely settles easily

Recent meetings between these two have thrown up plenty of draws, with 2-2, 1-1 and 0-0 scorelines all cropping up over the past couple of seasons. The last meeting in September went to Larne, but only 2-1, and even the wins in this fixture tend to be by a single goal.

That kind of pattern doesn't point strongly either way. If anything, it suggests this one could stay tight again.

History here favours a close contest over a one-sided one.

Players carrying the goal threat

M. Lusty has been Larne's main source of goals lately, with three in his last two appearances, while S. Graham and P. O'Neill have also found the net. For Glentoran, J. Jenkins has matched that output with three goals in his last three games, and he's had support from Douglas, Donnelly and Fisher.

Glentoran:

Best scorers:

J. Jenkins - 3

J. Douglas - 1

J. Donnelly - 1

Penalty cards:

J. Russell x 1

D. Amos x 1

J. Singleton x 1

Larne:

Best scorers:

M. Lusty - 3

S. Graham - 1

P. O'Neill - 1

Penalty cards:

S. Want x 1

M. Randall x 2

L. Ives x 1

Discipline is worth a mention too. Larne's M. Randall has picked up two yellow cards in his last three matches, and S. Want was sent off within that same stretch, so it's an area to watch for Larne even if it doesn't confirm who'll be out for this particular game.

What could shape this one

With Glentoran finding some rhythm domestically and Larne still scoring regularly despite a couple of recent slips, this has the look of an open contest. Add in a head-to-head record built on tight scorelines rather than routs, and goals at both ends wouldn't be a surprise.