BILLY TACKLES...

CHRIS JOHNS

BY deliberately losing 7-4 to Dungannon Swifts’ Ryan Mayse last weekend, it took the season score to 7-4 in the favour of the players, so with that out of the way I can concentrate fully now. I am breaking new ground this week by taking on a goalie, and a bloomin’ good one too, in the shape of Coleraine’s Chris Johns, who is likely to be a busy man this weekend when the league leaders face Crusaders.

But first up a bigger challenge, predicting the other matches’ scores, with the usual rules of three points for an exact score, which Ryan did with his 2-1 tip for Linfield over Coleraine, and one for a correct outcome, which he did in all four of the other matches.

What a clever chap.

Glenavon v Linfield

Friday (7.45pm) Linfield have had a lot of games recently and didn’t look that fresh against us in the second half, so they’ll need to recover this week to have a chance. Glenavon are on fire, they’re scoring goals for fun at the minute and they have tightened up at the back recently as well. I just don’t think that there will be many goals in it. Johns prediction: 1-1 Weir prediction: 2-1

Cliftonville v Ballymena Utd

Saturday (3.00pm) Ballymena have had a few good results lately, but I have to fancy Cliftonville. Their strikeforce is frightening and goals are to be expected. I rate their keeper, Brian Neeson, very highly. It’s good for the team to get him a run of games because he was in and out of the side but once you have a settled back four and keeper it is a lot easier to shut them out. Johns prediction: 3-1 Weir prediction: 2-2

Glentoran v Ards

Saturday (3.00pm) Neither team have reached the heights that they would like to and with Ards playing us on Tuesday night they could have a few tired legs going into Saturday. Ards are a good side but when there are so many games in a week it’s hard to keep fresh. Johns prediction: 2-0 Weir prediction: 2-1

Ballinamallard Utd v Warrenpoint T

Saturday (3.00pm) I have no idea! These were two of the hardest games we’ve played all season, Ballinamallard and Warrenpoint at home. Against Warrenpoint we could have been two or three down at halftime and they went down to 10 men and if they’d kept all 11 it would have been a very tough night. They’re not a bad side at all, like Ballinamallard, they just need a bit of luck. We had a very even game with them up at our place, it’s hard to figure out why they’re down at the bottom. Warrenpoint have more of a threat up front, so I’ll go for them. Johns prediction: 1-2 Weir prediction: 2-2

Dungannon Sws v Carrick Rangers

Saturday (3.00pm) This should be a good game because both of them play really good football, as everyone likes to point out. I’m going to go for a draw. Johns prediction: 2-2 Weir prediction: 3-1

Season’s standings: Players 7 Weir 4