Coleraine vs Crusaders Predictions

• Under 2.5 goals have been produced in 4 of the last 7 meetings between these two clubs.
• Under 2.5 goals have been scored in 4 of Coleraine’s last 6 matches.
• Coleraine have kept clean sheets in 5 of their last 6 matches.
• Crusaders have lost their last 2 matches (including a friendly against Dundalk).

There hasn’t been much between these two clubs so far this season

Coleraine head into Saturday’s League Cup Final on the back of a 1-0 away win against Gelntoran which saw the club keep a clean sheet for the fourth successive match, while Crusaders lost 2-1 away at Gelnavon and that allowed Coleraine to leapfrog them in the Premiership table.

Like many cup finals, we are expecting a tight and tense affair on Saturday, as neither team are going to want to make the first mistake when there is silverware on the line, especially as four of the last seven encounters between the two clubs have produced under 2.5 goals. Coleraine edge the form guide with five wins and one defeat from their last six matches, but Crusaders aren’t far behind having won four and lost two of their last six competitive and non-competitive matches.

The recent performances of Coleraine suggest that Saturday’s final could well be won by the games first goal as the Bannsiders have kept clean sheets in their last four outings, two of which have ended 1-0. The final will be played at Windsor Park, the home of the Northern Ireland national team and the league leaders Linfield, so we believe it is prudent to take a look at both teams away records so far this season.

Coleraine have won 8 of their fourteen away games in the Premiership while Crusaders have only won seven times on the road, but there is very little between the teams in terms of their average points earned per away game with Coleraine picking up 1.93 points and Crusaders averaging 1.86 points, both well above the league average of 1.27 points.

Coleraine have a better away record of the two clubs

Coleraine boast a 57% win ratio on the road where they score an average of 2.07 goals and concede an average of 1.00 goals but 50% of those away trips have produced under 2.5 goals and on 43% have seen both teams score. Crusaders’ win ratio is slightly less than Coleraine’s at 50% but they only concede an average of 0.93 goals per away game and like their opponents only 50% of their away trips have seen both sides score.

Four of Coleraine’s wins this season have been obtained via a 1-goal margin while a majority of Crusaders’s defeats (3) have also had a 1-goal margin, which ties in perfectly with our prediction for a 1-0 win for Coleraine. Both teams have kept clean sheets in 43% of their away games and don’t concede many goals on the road, another reason we are expecting a close and competitive ninety minutes between the pair on Saturday.

We’re confident that Saturday’s League Cup Final will produce under 2.5 goals and we have predicted a final scoreline of 1-0 in favour of Coleraine. Both teams are playing well and have performed to a similar standard in the Premiership this season which is why we are expecting a tight and tense ninety minutes. However, Coleraine have won more away games this season and for this reason, we believe the best bet is to back the Bannsiders to win 1-0.