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Derby Day on Easter Tuesday

Mon, 01/04/2013 - 19:59

Easter Tuesday sees Derby Day hit Belfast as the original 'Big Two' lock horns at Windsor Park in the Danske Bank Premiership. Although Glentoran and Linfield find themselves 3rd and 4th best this season, the fixture still promises to serve up one of the big attendances of the domestic calendar and as always there will be no love lost between the two sides. Glentoran and Linfield may not be contesting for the league title but there is still significance in Tuesday's game. The Glens fell 6 points behind Linfield at the weekend having been beaten in the nine goal thriller against Crusaders however Linfield didn't capitalise to their fullest as they only managed a draw in Ballinamallard. The signficance in the race for 3rd is extremely important with it being an all-important European place. Glentoran know failing to beat their big rivals tomorrow could see these hopes fade away.

Glentoran's team news remains largely unchanged. Stephen Carson may return to the starting line-up having been rested on Saturday. Jason Hill missed Saturday's game with a hamstring injury and is a doubt for tomorrow's game. David Howland will return from suspension. 

Glentoran have failed to beat our cross city neighbours in all four meetings this season, suffering two draws and two defeats. Both league games at The Oval finished in 1-1 draws, with Jay Magee's late penalty being the most recent in February. At Windsor Park, Glentoran battled hard with 10 men on Boxing Day but The Blues successfully overturned a 1-0 defecit to a 2-1 victory. Linfield also won the only cup encounter of the campaign, 2-1 at The Oval with a late winner after Jimmy Callacher thought he'd earned Glentoran extra-time. 

Glentoran's record at Windsor Park has been poor over the course of the last 20 years. Since 1989, only two victories have been recorded, back to back last season. Ciaran Martyn's winner in August 2011 broke the 22 year Windsor hoodoo and Calum Birney's end of season brace completed the historic clean sweep over Linfield last season without The Blues breaching Elliot Morris' defences once. Glentoran will need a return to that form tomorrow to give ourselves a great chance at snatching 3rd, and to rebuild momentum as we return to Windsor on Saturday for our season-defining Cup semi-final.

PLEASE NOTE: Tomorrow's game is a 2.30pm kick off