The sides last met at the beginning of October, when the Glens came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory at the National Stadium with goals from Jay Donnelly, Frankie Hvid, and Cammy Palmer.
Declan Devine is calling for his players and Glentoran fans to pick up where they left off in the last meeting between the two sides.
Devine said: “What people forget about the game at the National Stadium is that we were under a bit of pressure in the first half, and the fans stayed with us, even when we were a goal down.
“To be fair to the players, they really responded in the second half and gave the fans something to shout about. Over recent years, I don’t think Glentoran fans have had a lot to cheer for and get behind, but the players deserved huge credit that night.
“The connection between the players and fans was something special, and if we can replicate that on Friday night, we’ll give ourselves the best chance possible.”
In recent weeks, the squad has displayed plenty of positives but has struggled to find consistency. A 3-0 win at Mourneview Park was followed by a 2-0 victory over Ballymena United, which booked Glentoran’s spot in January’s ToalsBet.com County Antrim Shield Final against holders Larne.
Devine acknowledges the need for more consistent performances but insists his side fears no one in the division.
Declan added: “We’re not the only team in the country struggling for consistency; we’re still only three points off second place. We must focus on ourselves, but when you look around the league, there are a lot of surprise results, and teams are putting runs of form together.
“We’re aware of that and need to keep striving to get better, but I’m confident going into any game with this group of players. We can be dynamic; we can be aggressive in our play. I don’t think there’s anyone in the league that Glentoran should fear, but we know we must be at our best in every single game.”
Since the win at the National Stadium, the Glens have secured home victories over Carrick Rangers, Dungannon Swifts, and Ballymena United, but have also dropped points to Larne and Portadown.
The manager is now calling for his team to string together a series of strong performances.
Declan said: “We have to keep working hard that is the bottom line, we have had a lot of good performances at the BetMcLean Oval, but I think it has been well-documented that we haven’t put teams to bed when the opportunities were there for us. It is certainly a work in progress, we believe that the group we have is more than capable of putting a run of performances together.”

Important Supporter Notices

Prohibited Items: The Board of Directors reminds supporters that under no circumstances is anyone permitted to bring flares, fireworks, or any other pyrotechnic equipment into the BetMcLean Oval. These items are extremely dangerous to other supporters and players. Any breach of this rule will result in a lifetime ban from the BetMcLean Oval and immediate reporting to the police
Parking: Supporters are strongly requested to respect the rights of local residents by avoiding parking directly in front of housefronts in the surrounding area. Ample parking is available at the Holywood Arches Health Centre.

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