When staturday comes: Linfield

Ahead of Cliftonville’s Sports Direct Premiership clash with Linfield at Solitude this evening, cliftonvillefc.net continues an occasional new series detailing the matchday facts and figures with the assistance of Club Heritage Development Officer Paul Treanor.

Tonight’s game is, for example, the Reds’ 601st meeting with the Blues (and 105th at Solitude in the Premiership era), with none of the fixture’s most common scorelines offering particularly good omens from a home perspective; 66 1-0 defeats, 36 goalless stalemates and 34 1-1 draws topping the frequency list.

By contrast, Saturday’s 5-1 victory at Loughgall provided a more positive outlook.

Taylor Steven’s first goal saw him become Cliftonville’s 150th different Premiership scorer, while the Scotsman’s injury-time strike was the 8300th time the Reds have found the net in competitive action.

He joined Kris Lowe on two League goals for the Club, lifting them above the 34 players who only ever scored one – but some distance behind the 184 Premiership efforts claimed by Joe Gormley, for whom Saturday’s opener was the fourth time he has been on the scoresheet against the Villagers.

The Reds have now recorded 10 wins from 14 meetings with Loughgall, who are the senior opponents Cliftonville have faced the fewest times in history – one behind a North Staffordshire Regiment outfit we last tackled way back in 1899!

In review
8300: Total tally of goals Cliftonville have scored in competitive football.
600: Number of times the Reds have previously faced Linfield.
150: Taylor Steven became Cliftonville’s 150th Premiership goalscorer when he netted against Loughgall.
105: Tonight’s game will be our 105th Premiership encounter with the Blues at Solitude.
66: Amount of times Linfield have won the fixture 1-0; the contest’s most regular scoreline.
10: Cliftonville have now defeated Loughgall 10 times in 14 meetings.