IT’S third versus first in the clash of New Year’s Day in the Danske Bank Irish Premier League.
Champions Linfield host the current league leaders Cliftonville at Windsor Park in the eagerly anticipated clash.
Last year, Linfield beat Cliftonville 4-1 on their way to winning the league and as our picture shows manager David Jeffrey was more than happy with the result.
However, there has been a revival in Cliftonville’s fortunes in the 2012/2013 season under manager Tommy Breslin.
They are currenlty nine points ahead of second-placed Crusaders and have a game in hand over the Shore Road men as they start the New Year campaign.
Fourth placed Glentoran, who have just signed a new sponsorship deal with A.McLean bookmakers, travel up the M2 to take on Coleraine who had a great start to the season but recent results have seen the Bannsiders slide down the table.
In north Belfast, third placed Crusaders host Portadown who starting to find a rich vein of form under Ronnie McFall, the league’s longest serving manager.
Tuesday 1st January 2013 Danske Bank Premiership:
All 3pm kick-offs
Coleraine V Glentoran
Crusaders V Portadown
Donegal Celtic V Glenavon
Dungannon S V Ballymena
Linfield V Cliftonville
Lisburn Distillery V Ballinamallard Utd
One Response to DANSKE BANK IRISH PREMIER LEAGUE: CHAMPIONS LINFIELD HOST LEAGUE LEADERS CLIFTONVILLE