Newry City hoping to pull off an upset win at home to the champions Larne

The odds are against Newry City in Saturday evening's Sports Direct Premiership clash at home to Larne, but they will be hoping to put two unwanted records to bed.

Gary Boyle's side sit ninth in the table coming into the weekend, owing to some valuable wins away from home. However, they have yet to pick up a victory in front of their own fans at The Showgrounds this season, with only a solitary point (a 2-2 draw with Dungannon Swifts) from six league games.

The other unwanted record that Newry will be hoping to put to bed is their winless run against 'big six' teams.

Since returning to the top flight in August 2022, Newry have played top six opposition 25 times, and have yet to win a single game - with only one point collected. However, that point did come in this fixture last year, as they held Larne to a 0-0 draw at The Showgrounds.

Larne would eventually go on to claim the league title. However, this season it hasn't been smooth sailing for Tiarnan Lynch's team, as after 13 games they already find themselves cut eight points adrift from league leaders Linfield. Additionally, they have struggled at times against bottom six opposition, drawing twice with Dungannon and losing away to Loughgall.

From Newry's perspective, in their last fixture against one of the top six sides, they pushed Coleraine close, but were left to rue not taking their chances when they were on top, as well as sloppy errors at the back costing them dear in a 2-0 defeat.

Gary Boyle's side have since been given a lift, as key attacker John McGovern made his return from a six-month injury absence in their last league game away to Loughgall. It remains to be seen whether or not he will be able to play from the start.