Following successive defeats to Cliftonville and Carrick Rangers, Glentoran will be looking to get their Danske Bank Premiership campaign back on track when they face Portadown at Shamrock Park on Saturday. Manager, Alan Kernaghan will be hoping that his side capitalise on their domination of possession in most games with goals. Indeed the East Belfast side have found the net just once in their opening three league fixtures; Ciaran Caldwell’s strike on the opening day of the season against Dungannon Swifts.
Games against Portadown are usually tough encounters. In the season before last the sides met four times in the Premiership with three of the games finishing all square and the other resulting in a 3-1 victory to the Ports at Shamrock Park. The Glens did though have the satisfaction of defeating the Co Armagh side in the final of the Irish Cup; David Scullion’s goal winning the cup at the Oval.
Last year the three meeting were all won by the home side. A Marcus Kane goal gave Glentoran the points at the Oval in mid-September whilst the Ports put 5 past the Glens at Shamrock Park in mid-December 2015. Glentoran scored 3 that evening with Kane again on the score sheet and Curtis Allen getting the other two. The final meeting of the sides took place in East Belfast on 19th March this year and although the visitors struck first, Curtis Allen scored a brace and gave the Glens the points. Watch Glentoran 2-1 Portadown
Glentoran are still without Stephen McAlorum and Willie Garrett as the duo continue to regain fitness following injuries. David Scullion also remains on the injured list but Jay Magee has returned to the squad and Chris Lavery is available following his 3-game ban. Marcus Kane, Stephen O’Flynn and Aaron Harmon missed last week’s defeat to Carrick Rangers whilst Eric Foley picked up a knock during the game. Alan Kernaghan will be hoping to have some of them in contention on Saturday. It will be a strange feeling for Ross Redman as he enters the away dressing room at Shamrock Park having joined Glentoran after 12 years with Portadown. Redman is one of a number of high profile departures from the Ports with Chris Casement and Gary Twigg also moving on. The Co Armagh side did retain the majority of their star names though and have added amateurs, Stephen Hughes and former Glentoran midfielder, Niall Henderson.
Glentoran supporters are reminded that they require tickets for this fixture. The club would advise supporters without tickets not to travel to Shamrock Park.