More than a third into this Irish League campaign and two things are clear: there’s likely to be a title race involving up to four clubs – and Glenavon are surely gone.
The Lurgan Blues are stranded at the bottom of the table, with only six points from 17 matches, an average of just over a third of point per game.
That PPG metric does help give a better picture. For example, big-spending Coleraine are in second spot, but they’re only fourth in the PPG table, averaging less than two points per match (1.94), with their tally of 33 from 17.
The effects of European involvement don’t only apply to the clubs who played in continental competition; they also affect the table.
The range of matches played goes from 14 (three clubs as of Saturday, with Glentoran in action on Friday night, away to Bangor) up to 17 – the Bannsiders and the mid-Ulster rivals Portadown and Glenavon.
It’s actually the east Belfast Glens who are in second spot in terms of PPG, their tally of 29 from 14 outings an average of 2.07.
Holders Linfield would be up to third, averaging exactly 2 points from their 14 games so far.
Dungannon Swifts and Cliftonville have both got 1.5 ppg, having played 16 and 14 matches respectively. Similarly, Ballymena United and Bangor (before hosting the Glens), have each accrued 1.25 ppg, both having played 16 games so far.
Carrick Rangers are arguably in the most deceptive position. The Carrickfergus outfit are sitting in 11th – but their 16 points from 14 matches actually puts them in ninth in the ‘PPG table’, leap-frogging both Portadown and Crusaders, with the latter pushed down to just above Glenavon.
Of course, traditionalists quite rightly can argue that what matters most is ‘points on the board’.
Games in hand are no guarantee of points to come and indeed fixture pile-up can lead to difficulties later in the season.
The table does appear to be shaping up into a top six and a bottom six, although both Bangor and Ballymena will feel they can rise from the latter to the former.
Even the Ports, Carrick, and the Crues aren’t far off, if they can put together a decent run of results.
Glenavon require a miracle, having lost their first 11 league outings, although two wins in the past six matches does offer them a glimmer of hope. Ballymena are the visitors to Mourneview Park on Saturday afternoon.
At the other end of the table, leaders Larne have a tricky test away to Dungannon at Stangmore Park. The Swifts are the form team in the league – after the Inver Reds, of course.
Larne started shakily, with just one point from their first two matches, but have lost just one league game out of the subsequent 13 – although that 2-0 defeat was in east Tyrone.
The Swifts have bounced back brilliantly after a dreadful beginning. They lost their first five in the Premiership, undoubtedly adversely affected by their unusual involvement in Europe.
However, since then Rodney McAree’s men have won eight out of 11, averaging 2.18 PPG.
Champions Linfield, who host Carrick on Saturday, are unbeaten in their last six league outings, and have lost just one in nine.
There’s a ‘battle of the reds’ as Portadown ‘welcome’ Cliftonville to Shamrock Park. The Solitude side seem to have recovered well from their three consecutive losses (including at home to the Ports), with three wins and a draw in their last four league matches. In contrast, Portadown have taken just one point from their last five games, since beating Linfield in mid-October.
Coleraine go to Seaview to take on struggling Crusaders, but the Bannsiders are in a mini-slump themselves, with two losses and a draw from their last three games. The Crues are inconsistent, and are the third highest scorers but with the third worst defensive record so far.
NIFL Premiership PPG table (before Friday November 28 match, Bangor-Glentoran):
1st: Larne: 2.33
2nd: Glentoran: 2.07
3rd: Linfield: 2
4th: Coleraine: 1.94
5th: Dungannon Swifts: 1.5
6th: Cliftonville: 1.5
7th: Ballymena United: 1.25
8th: Bangor: 1.25
9th: Carrick Rangers: 1.14
10th: Portadown: 1.12
11th: Crusaders: 1.06
12th: Glenavon: 0.35
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