Saturday 5th December 2020, Kick off 3pm
Tomorrow we face what has been one of our most difficult tasks in recent years when we cross the town to meet Crusaders at Seaview.
Glentoran's last win at Seaview was on 6th August 2011 - the opening game of that league season. After a scoreless first half, the Glens took the lead when legendary defender Colin Nixon headed home a cross from new boy Stephen Carson. The game had looked like petering out to a draw after Colin Coates headed Crusaders level from a 79th minute corner but - after soaking up all the late pressure the home side could exert - the Glens took the 3 points back to the Oval when another new boy, striker Darren Boyce, headed emphatically into the net in front of the Glentoran fans at the Shore Road End after defender Johnny Taylor had nodded on a Carson cross from the left.
Crusaders are a side we have endured a torrid record against over the past decade but, encouragingly, we only have to look back to March of this year for our last victory against them. In the Irish Cup Quarter Final, the Glens set themselves on the road to winning the famous old trophy after a long range shot into the bottom corner by Captain Marcus Kane and a late Robbie McDaid penalty saw us recover from going behind to Jamie McGonigle's first half goal to win 2-1 at the Oval.
Stephen Baxter's side have had an inconsistent start to the season - they sit 3rd in the table after 8 matches but sit 5 points behind leaders Larne, having lost 2-1 away to both the Invermen and second place Linfield so far. Of more pressing concern for manager Stephen Baxter, though, will be last week's 3-1 loss at Glenavon. More encouragingly for the Hatchet Men, they have taken maximum points from their 3 home games thus far.
Striker Jordan Owens returned to the Crues side at Mourneview as a late sub, while Paul Heatley also returned to the squad after injury but remained on the bench as he eases his way back to full fitness. Long serving Goalkeeper Sean O'Neill has recently returned to the side in place of ex Derry City man Gerard Doherty.
Mick McDermott: “We’re all looking forward to this one and to getting back to Premiership football. The Crues are coming to us on the back of a bad defeat to Glenavon and I’ve no doubt Stephen Baxter will be looking for a reaction after that. Seaview is a notoriously tough place to get a result, and we know Glentoran’s record there isn’t good enough in recent years, but we’re out to change that. We’re going there with a very strong squad and we are fully focused on putting in a good performance and getting a win. We beat them in the Irish Cup at the Oval, last time we played so the boys know what they’re capable of when it comes to a match like this one.”
