Match Info

NIFL Premiership - Round 28

Date: 17 February 2026, Tuesday

Location: Ballymena Showgrounds (Ballymena)

Referee: Milligan M. (Nir)

Where to Watch on TV:


World	Onefootball


	Ballymena United		Crusaders

	1	X	2
	1.95	3.5	3.3
	1.95	3.55	3.4
	1.96	3.79	3.61
	1.89	3.79	3.4	Watch
	2	3.5	3.3
	1.9	3.54	3.44
	1.95	3.6	3.33
Avarage Now (Initially)	1.94 ↓ (1.99)	3.61 ↑ (3.58)	3.4 ↑ (3.27)

The most likely Over/Under: 2.75

The best margin for this event is 5.1%, offered by

#Advertisement. For Live Stream GEO restrictions apply. Funded account required. GamblingTherapy.org. 18+

Current Win Probability

Ballymena United
47.4%

Draw
25.5%

Crusaders
27.1%

Initial Probability

(when we started the analysis)

46.2%

25.7%

28.1%

Our Initial ML Estimation

48%

24.7%

27%

Analysis of Changes in Winning Probabilities:

Ballymena United has improved its chances compared to the initial analysis. (+1.2%)

Crusaders has seen a decrease in its chances compared to the initial analysis. (-1%)

ML Model estimates a higher probability for Ballymena United than the current prediction. (+0.6%)

ML Model estimates a lower probability for Crusaders than the current prediction. (-0.1%)

Who will win by Users?

1	X	2
66.7%	16.7%	16.7%

Ballymena United - Crusaders Predictions

Users Predictions: 6 users predict this event. Ballymena United will win (votes: 4 - 66.7%). Crusaders will win (votes: 1 - 16.7%). It will Tie (votes: 1 - 16.7%).

Over/Under & Asian Handicap Predictions by Selected Experts:

DC - Crusaders (1.72) (votes: 1 - 100%) .

DNB - Crusaders (2.42) (votes: 1 - 100%) .

AH 0 - Crusaders (2.45) (votes: 1 - 100%) .

O/U 2.5 - over (votes: 1 - 100%) .

BTTS - yes (votes: 3 - 100%) 🥉 Bronze Tip.

Verified Performance Core (Selected Experts): Ballymena United will win (3 of 3 users predict this - 100%) 🥉 Bronze Tip.

Overall Expert Consensus (including all markets): 6 Selected Experts predict this event. Ballymena United (votes: 3 - 50%). Crusaders (votes: 3 - 50%).

Expected Score (Market Odds): 2:1

#ad

Lineups

Starting Lineups
30. Wade B. (G) 16. Clarke M. (C) 31. Corbally K. 22. Edogun S. 8. Jarvis A. 25. Mccallion D. 24. McEleney S. 21. McGeouch D. 12. Rutkowski I. 28. Sule F. 5. Toure D.	1. Dibaga M. (G) 42. Anderson L. 43. Barr L. 22. Bruce C. 19. Bryden F. 14. Forsythe J. (C) 2. Forsythe K. 27. Maguire T. 7. McKechnie K. 21. Nixon S. 29. Rough S.
Substitutes
23. Breen D. (G) 18. Ebbe D. 19. McCurry C. 26. Murray S. 11. O'Conchubhair D. 15. O'Donnell S. 20. Thompson J.	9. Brooks A. 11. Dunlop E. 12. Easton E. 62. James J. 10. Thorndike F. 33. Tuffey J. (G) 16. Williamson J.
Coaches
Kearney O.	Caddell D.

Key Events of the Match

1st Half (0 - 0)
31', Forsythe J. 🟨,
2nd Half (2 - 0)
50', Toure D. 🟨,
54', 1 - 0, Rutkowski I. ⚽, McGeouch D. (A),
65', Rutkowski I. 🟨,
71', Jarvis A. 🟨,
84', 2 - 0, Rutkowski I. (Penalty Awarded),
89', Rutkowski I. ↓, Ebbe D. ↑,

Preview

In the last 5 head-to-head matches, Ballymena United won 0.

Ballymena United has been struggling in recent matches (last 5 games: 0 wins).

Crusaders has been struggling lately (in the last 5 games, wins – 1).

Crusaders may have a physical advantage due to more rest days in recent times.

Ballymena United could have a small edge in this match.

In the last 20 head-to-head matches, Ballymena United won 3 matches, drew 3 matches, lost 14 matches, and goals 17:36. (average 0.9:1.8).

Including home matches between the teams, Ballymena United won 1 match, drew 2 matches, lost 8 matches, and goals 9:21. (average 0.8:1.9).

Outrights of Northern Irish Premiership for now

Crusaders: 0.84% Ballymena: 0.84%

Standings

		Pl	W	D	L		Diff	Pts
5	Crusaders	10	5	0	5	15:18	-3	15
8	Ballymena	9	3	3	3	13:11	2	12

Form

✺ - easy match; ✺ - difficult match;

- Ballymena United
Northern Irish Premiership
14.02.26	Glentoran - Ballymena United	2:1 ✺
Northern Irish Cup
03.02.26	Ballymena United - Larne	1:2 ✺
Northern Irish Premiership
31.01.26	Linfield - Ballymena United	2:1 ✺
Northern Irish League Cup
28.01.26	Linfield - Ballymena United	1:0 ✺
Northern Irish Premiership
24.01.26	Ballymena United - Portadown	1:1 ✺
Form Coefficient (based on results and difficulties of last matches) - 1 LLLLT
- Crusaders FC
Northern Irish Premiership
14.02.26	Crusaders - Bangor	2:2 ✺
31.01.26	Crusaders - Larne	2:4 ✺
24.01.26	Crusaders - Linfield	0:1 ✺
17.01.26	Coleraine - Crusaders	5:1 ✺
Northern Irish Cup
09.01.26	Coleraine - Crusaders	4:0 ✺
Form Coefficient (based on results and difficulties of last matches) - 1.1 TLLLL

Latest Head to Head

Northern Irish Premiership
22.11.25	Ballymena United - Crusaders	2:2
20.09.25	Crusaders - Ballymena United	1:1
15.02.25	Crusaders - Ballymena United	3:1
26.10.24	Crusaders - Ballymena United	1:0
20.08.24	Ballymena United - Crusaders	0:1
09.03.24	Ballymena United - Crusaders	2:4
13.10.23	Crusaders - Ballymena United	1:0

Upcoming Matches